diff --git a/src/ng-select/lib/ng-select.component.html b/src/ng-select/lib/ng-select.component.html
index 67b0232d..694a7e42 100644
--- a/src/ng-select/lib/ng-select.component.html
+++ b/src/ng-select/lib/ng-select.component.html
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
     class="ng-select-container">
 
     <div class="ng-value-container">
-        <div class="ng-placeholder">{{placeholder}}</div>
+        <ng-container *ngIf="placeholder">
+            <div class="ng-placeholder">{{placeholder}}</div>
+        </ng-container>
 
         <ng-container *ngIf="(!multiLabelTemplate  || !multiple ) && selectedItems.length > 0">
             <div [class.ng-value-disabled]="item.disabled" class="ng-value" *ngFor="let item of selectedItems; trackBy: trackByOption">