diff --git a/src/components/tooltip/tooltip.js b/src/components/tooltip/tooltip.js
index feafdf86192..c69201ee5e4 100644
--- a/src/components/tooltip/tooltip.js
+++ b/src/components/tooltip/tooltip.js
@@ -113,13 +113,13 @@ function MdTooltipDirective($timeout, $window, $$rAF, $document, $interpolate,
       // tooltip directive.
       if (
         (!parent.attr('aria-label') && !parent.attr('aria-labelledby')) ||
-        parent.attr('aria-labelledby') === tooltipId
+        parent.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip')
       ) {
         parent.attr('aria-label', interpolatedText);
 
-        // Set the `aria-labelledby` attribute if it has not already been set.
-        if (!parent.attr('aria-labelledby')) {
-          parent.attr('aria-labelledby', tooltipId);
+        // Set the `md-labeled-by-tooltip` attribute if it has not already been set.
+        if (!parent.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip')) {
+          parent.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip', tooltipId);
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/components/tooltip/tooltip.spec.js b/src/components/tooltip/tooltip.spec.js
index 66523129a23..7028b882116 100644
--- a/src/components/tooltip/tooltip.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/tooltip/tooltip.spec.js
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ describe('MdTooltip Component', function() {
     );
 
     expect(element.attr('aria-label')).toEqual('Tooltip');
-    expect(element.attr('aria-labelledby')).toBeDefined();
+    expect(element.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip')).toBeDefined();
   });
 
   it('should not label the parent if it already has a label', function() {
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ describe('MdTooltip Component', function() {
     );
 
     expect(element.attr('aria-label')).toEqual('Button Label');
-    expect(element.attr('aria-labelledby')).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(element.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip')).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
   it('should not label the parent if it has already been labelled by ' +
@@ -143,12 +143,12 @@ describe('MdTooltip Component', function() {
     );
 
     expect(element.attr('aria-label')).toBe('HELLO');
-    expect(element.attr('aria-labelledby')).toBeDefined();
+    expect(element.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip')).toBeDefined();
   });
 
   it('should update the aria-label when the interpolated value changes', function() {
-    var ariaLabelledby;
-    var ariaLabelledby2;
+    var labeledByTooltip;
+    var labeledByTooltip2;
 
     buildTooltip(
       '<md-button>' +
@@ -161,16 +161,16 @@ describe('MdTooltip Component', function() {
     });
 
     expect(element.attr('aria-label')).toBe('test 1');
-    ariaLabelledby = element.attr('aria-labelledby');
-    expect(ariaLabelledby).toBeDefined();
+    labeledByTooltip = element.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip');
+    expect(labeledByTooltip).toBeDefined();
 
     parentScope.$apply(function() {
       parentScope.testModel.ariaText = 'test 2';
     });
 
     expect(element.attr('aria-label')).toBe('test 2');
-    ariaLabelledby2 = element.attr('aria-labelledby');
-    expect(ariaLabelledby2).toEqual(ariaLabelledby);
+    labeledByTooltip2 = element.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip');
+    expect(labeledByTooltip2).toEqual(labeledByTooltip);
   });
 
   it('should not update the parent aria-label when the interpolated' +
@@ -187,19 +187,19 @@ describe('MdTooltip Component', function() {
     });
 
     expect(element.attr('aria-label')).toBe('Button Label');
-    expect(element.attr('aria-labelledby')).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(element.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip')).toBeUndefined();
 
     parentScope.$apply(function() {
       parentScope.testModel.ariaText = 'test 2';
     });
 
     expect(element.attr('aria-label')).toBe('Button Label');
-    expect(element.attr('aria-labelledby')).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(element.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip')).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
   it('should not interpolate interpolated values', function() {
-    var ariaLabelledby;
-    var ariaLabelledby2;
+    var labeledByTooltip;
+    var labeledByTooltip2;
 
     buildTooltip(
       '<md-button>' +
@@ -212,16 +212,16 @@ describe('MdTooltip Component', function() {
     });
 
     expect(element.attr('aria-label')).toBe('test {{1+1}}');
-    ariaLabelledby = element.attr('aria-labelledby');
-    expect(ariaLabelledby).toBeDefined();
+    labeledByTooltip = element.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip');
+    expect(labeledByTooltip).toBeDefined();
 
     parentScope.$apply(function() {
       parentScope.testModel.ariaTest = 'test {{1+1336}}';
     });
 
     expect(element.attr('aria-label')).toBe('test {{1+1336}}');
-    ariaLabelledby2 = element.attr('aria-labelledby');
-    expect(ariaLabelledby2).toEqual(ariaLabelledby);
+    labeledByTooltip2 = element.attr('md-labeled-by-tooltip');
+    expect(labeledByTooltip2).toEqual(labeledByTooltip);
   });
 
   it('should not set parent to items with no pointer events',