diff --git a/src/tabs/tabs.js b/src/tabs/tabs.js
index c8c4b37322..125c7c3a89 100644
--- a/src/tabs/tabs.js
+++ b/src/tabs/tabs.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ function TabsetCtrl($scope, $element) {
 
   ctrl.addTab = function addTab(tab) {
     tabs.push(tab);
-    if (tabs.length == 1 || tab.active) {
+    if (tabs.length === 1 || tab.active) {
       ctrl.select(tab);
     }
   };
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ function($parse, $http, $templateCache, $compile) {
           scope.$parent.$watch(getActive, function updateActive(value) {
             scope.active = !!value;
           });
+          scope.active = getActive(scope.$parent);
         } else {
           setActive = getActive = angular.noop;
         }
@@ -211,8 +212,7 @@ function($parse, $http, $templateCache, $compile) {
           if (active) {
             tabsetCtrl.select(scope);
             scope.onSelect();
-          }
-          else {
+          } else {
             scope.onDeselect();
           }
         });
diff --git a/src/tabs/test/tabsSpec.js b/src/tabs/test/tabsSpec.js
index 93c0e51cd4..e8a9822fef 100644
--- a/src/tabs/test/tabsSpec.js
+++ b/src/tabs/test/tabsSpec.js
@@ -107,14 +107,14 @@ describe('tabs', function() {
     beforeEach(inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
       scope = $rootScope.$new();
 
-      function makeTab() {
+      function makeTab(active) {
         return {
-          active: false,
+          active: !!active,
           select: jasmine.createSpy()
         };
       }
       scope.tabs = [
-        makeTab(), makeTab(), makeTab(), makeTab()
+        makeTab(), makeTab(), makeTab(true), makeTab()
       ];
       elm = $compile([
         '<tabset>',
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ describe('tabs', function() {
         if (activeTab === tab) {
           expect(tab.active).toBe(true);
           //It should only call select ONCE for each select
-          expect(tab.select.callCount).toBe(1);
+          expect(tab.select).toHaveBeenCalled();
           expect(_titles.eq(i)).toHaveClass('active');
           expect(contents().eq(i).text().trim()).toBe('content ' + i);
           expect(contents().eq(i)).toHaveClass('active');
@@ -151,9 +151,9 @@ describe('tabs', function() {
       });
     }
 
-    it('should make tab titles with first content and first active', function() {
+    it('should make tab titles and set active tab active', function() {
       expect(titles().length).toBe(scope.tabs.length);
-      expectTabActive(scope.tabs[0]);
+      expectTabActive(scope.tabs[2]);
     });
 
     it('should switch active when clicking', function() {