diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
index f019c0196799..0c4a327943e4 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
@@ -63,13 +63,13 @@ export const MD_AUTOCOMPLETE_VALUE_ACCESSOR: any = {
  */
 export function getMdAutocompleteMissingPanelError(): Error {
   return Error('Attempting to open an undefined instance of `md-autocomplete`. ' +
-                   'Make sure that the id passed to the `mdAutocomplete` is correct and that ' +
-                   'you\'re attempting to open it after the ngAfterContentInit hook.');
+               'Make sure that the id passed to the `mdAutocomplete` is correct and that ' +
+               'you\'re attempting to open it after the ngAfterContentInit hook.');
 }
 
 @Directive({
   selector: 'input[mdAutocomplete], input[matAutocomplete],' +
-  'textarea[mdAutocomplete], textarea[matAutocomplete]',
+            'textarea[mdAutocomplete], textarea[matAutocomplete]',
   host: {
     'role': 'combobox',
     'autocomplete': 'off',
@@ -78,7 +78,9 @@ export function getMdAutocompleteMissingPanelError(): Error {
     '[attr.aria-activedescendant]': 'activeOption?.id',
     '[attr.aria-expanded]': 'panelOpen.toString()',
     '[attr.aria-owns]': 'autocomplete?.id',
-    '(focus)': 'openPanel()',
+    // Note: we use `focusin`, as opposed to `focus`, in order to open the panel
+    // a little earlier. This avoids issues where IE delays the focusing of the input.
+    '(focusin)': 'openPanel()',
     '(input)': '_handleInput($event)',
     '(blur)': '_onTouched()',
     '(keydown)': '_handleKeydown($event)',
diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
index f3e730346d9a..25538b1213de 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ describe('MdAutocomplete', () => {
       expect(fixture.componentInstance.trigger.panelOpen)
           .toBe(false, `Expected panel state to start out closed.`);
 
-      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focus');
+      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focusin');
       fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
         fixture.detectChanges();
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ describe('MdAutocomplete', () => {
       }));
 
     it('should close the panel when input loses focus', async(() => {
-      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focus');
+      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focusin');
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
       fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ describe('MdAutocomplete', () => {
     }));
 
     it('should close the panel when an option is clicked', async(() => {
-      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focus');
+      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focusin');
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
       fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ describe('MdAutocomplete', () => {
     }));
 
     it('should close the panel when a newly created option is clicked', async(() => {
-      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focus');
+      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focusin');
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
       fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ describe('MdAutocomplete', () => {
     });
 
     it('should hide the panel when the options list is empty', async(() => {
-      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focus');
+      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focusin');
 
       fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
         fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -1127,7 +1127,7 @@ describe('MdAutocomplete', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
       const input = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('input')).nativeElement;
-      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focus');
+      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'focusin');
 
       fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
         fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -1226,7 +1226,7 @@ describe('MdAutocomplete', () => {
       let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(AutocompleteWithOnPushDelay);
 
       fixture.detectChanges();
-      dispatchFakeEvent(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('input')).nativeElement, 'focus');
+      dispatchFakeEvent(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('input')).nativeElement, 'focusin');
       tick(1000);
       fixture.detectChanges();