diff --git a/src/lib/dialog/dialog-container.ts b/src/lib/dialog/dialog-container.ts
index 1dae30048831..e131df85e583 100644
--- a/src/lib/dialog/dialog-container.ts
+++ b/src/lib/dialog/dialog-container.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export function throwMdDialogContentAlreadyAttachedError() {
   ],
   host: {
     '[class.mat-dialog-container]': 'true',
-    '[attr.role]': 'config?.role',
+    '[attr.role]': '_config?.role',
     '[@slideDialog]': '_state',
     '(@slideDialog.done)': '_onAnimationDone($event)',
   },
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export class MdDialogContainer extends BasePortalHost {
   private _document: Document;
 
   /** The dialog configuration. */
-  config: MdDialogConfig;
+  _config: MdDialogConfig;
 
   /** State of the dialog animation. */
   _state: 'void' | 'enter' | 'exit' = 'enter';
diff --git a/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts b/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts
index 3654acae1aa3..b80f4f0b38b5 100644
--- a/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts
+++ b/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export class MdDialogRef<T> {
   componentInstance: T;
 
   /** Whether the user is allowed to close the dialog. */
-  disableClose: boolean = this._containerInstance.config.disableClose;
+  disableClose: boolean = this._containerInstance._config.disableClose;
 
   /** Subject for notifying the user that the dialog has finished closing. */
   private _afterClosed: Subject<any> = new Subject();
diff --git a/src/lib/dialog/dialog.ts b/src/lib/dialog/dialog.ts
index 85d2c8471054..aaa2c2a6a03d 100644
--- a/src/lib/dialog/dialog.ts
+++ b/src/lib/dialog/dialog.ts
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ export class MdDialog {
     let containerPortal = new ComponentPortal(MdDialogContainer, viewContainer);
 
     let containerRef: ComponentRef<MdDialogContainer> = overlay.attach(containerPortal);
-    containerRef.instance.config = config;
+    containerRef.instance._config = config;
 
     return containerRef.instance;
   }