diff --git a/src/lib/select/select.spec.ts b/src/lib/select/select.spec.ts
index b774081a9c11..db7e9991555c 100644
--- a/src/lib/select/select.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/select/select.spec.ts
@@ -2225,6 +2225,14 @@ describe('MdSelect', () => {
 
       expect(fixture.componentInstance.changeListener).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     });
+
+    it('should only emit one event when pressing the arrow keys on a closed select', () => {
+      const select = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('md-select')).nativeElement;
+      dispatchKeyboardEvent(select, 'keydown', DOWN_ARROW);
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.changeListener).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
   });
 
   describe('floatPlaceholder option', () => {
diff --git a/src/lib/select/select.ts b/src/lib/select/select.ts
index 8601e3066dcb..b2f65e013391 100644
--- a/src/lib/select/select.ts
+++ b/src/lib/select/select.ts
@@ -1178,7 +1178,6 @@ export class MdSelect extends _MdSelectMixinBase implements AfterContentInit, On
       if (currentActiveItem !== prevActiveItem) {
         this._clearSelection();
         this._setSelectionByValue(currentActiveItem.value, true);
-        this._propagateChanges();
       }
     }
   }