diff --git a/src/lib/input/autosize.spec.ts b/src/lib/input/autosize.spec.ts
index 6ca9f10e32b5..be85b894181e 100644
--- a/src/lib/input/autosize.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/input/autosize.spec.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ describe('MdTextareaAutosize', () => {
   });
 
   it('should resize the textarea based on its content', () => {
-    let previousHeight = textarea.offsetHeight;
+    let previousHeight = textarea.clientHeight;
 
     fixture.componentInstance.content = `
     Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
@@ -43,12 +43,12 @@ describe('MdTextareaAutosize', () => {
     fixture.detectChanges();
     autosize.resizeToFitContent();
 
-    expect(textarea.offsetHeight)
+    expect(textarea.clientHeight)
         .toBeGreaterThan(previousHeight, 'Expected textarea to have grown with added content.');
-    expect(textarea.offsetHeight)
+    expect(textarea.clientHeight)
         .toBe(textarea.scrollHeight, 'Expected textarea height to match its scrollHeight');
 
-    previousHeight = textarea.offsetHeight;
+    previousHeight = textarea.clientHeight;
     fixture.componentInstance.content += `
         Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
     And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ describe('MdTextareaAutosize', () => {
     fixture.detectChanges();
     autosize.resizeToFitContent();
 
-    expect(textarea.offsetHeight)
+    expect(textarea.clientHeight)
         .toBeGreaterThan(previousHeight, 'Expected textarea to have grown with added content.');
-    expect(textarea.offsetHeight)
+    expect(textarea.clientHeight)
         .toBe(textarea.scrollHeight, 'Expected textarea height to match its scrollHeight');
   });
 
@@ -103,6 +103,27 @@ describe('MdTextareaAutosize', () => {
     expect(fixture.componentInstance.autosize.resizeToFitContent).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
+
+  it('should properly resize to content on init', () => {
+    // Manually create the test component in this test, because in this test the first change
+    // detection should be triggered after a multiline content is set.
+    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(AutosizeTextAreaWithContent);
+    textarea = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('textarea');
+    autosize = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('textarea')).injector.get(MdTextareaAutosize);
+
+    fixture.componentInstance.content = `
+      Line
+      Line
+      Line
+      Line
+      Line`;
+
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    expect(textarea.clientHeight)
+      .toBe(textarea.scrollHeight, 'Expected textarea height to match its scrollHeight');
+  });
+
 });
 
 
diff --git a/src/lib/input/autosize.ts b/src/lib/input/autosize.ts
index f6bb2aacfc6a..175a8d91e486 100644
--- a/src/lib/input/autosize.ts
+++ b/src/lib/input/autosize.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {Directive, ElementRef, Input, OnInit} from '@angular/core';
+import {Directive, ElementRef, Input, AfterViewInit} from '@angular/core';
 
 
 /**
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {Directive, ElementRef, Input, OnInit} from '@angular/core';
     '[style.max-height]': '_maxHeight',
   },
 })
-export class MdTextareaAutosize implements OnInit {
+export class MdTextareaAutosize implements AfterViewInit {
   /** @deprecated Use mdAutosizeMinRows */
   @Input() minRows: number;
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export class MdTextareaAutosize implements OnInit {
     return this.maxRows ? `${this.maxRows * this._cachedLineHeight}px` : null;
   }
 
-  ngOnInit() {
+  ngAfterViewInit() {
     this._cacheTextareaLineHeight();
     this.resizeToFitContent();
   }
@@ -71,13 +71,13 @@ export class MdTextareaAutosize implements OnInit {
     textareaClone.style.position = 'absolute';
     textareaClone.style.visibility = 'hidden';
     textareaClone.style.border = 'none';
-    textareaClone.style.padding = '';
+    textareaClone.style.padding = '0';
     textareaClone.style.height = '';
     textareaClone.style.minHeight = '';
     textareaClone.style.maxHeight = '';
 
     textarea.parentNode.appendChild(textareaClone);
-    this._cachedLineHeight = textareaClone.offsetHeight;
+    this._cachedLineHeight = textareaClone.clientHeight;
     textarea.parentNode.removeChild(textareaClone);
   }