diff --git a/src/lib/snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts b/src/lib/snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts
index e2fd66d2a36a..f66fb300224a 100644
--- a/src/lib/snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,5 @@
-import {
-    inject,
-    async,
-    ComponentFixture,
-    TestBed,
-} from '@angular/core/testing';
-import {
-  NgModule,
-  Component,
-  Directive,
-  ViewChild,
-  ViewContainerRef
-} from '@angular/core';
+import {inject, async, ComponentFixture, TestBed} from '@angular/core/testing';
+import {NgModule, Component, Directive, ViewChild, ViewContainerRef} from '@angular/core';
 import {MdSnackBar, MdSnackBarModule} from './snack-bar';
 import {OverlayContainer, MdLiveAnnouncer} from '../core';
 import {MdSnackBarConfig} from './snack-bar-config';
@@ -194,6 +183,26 @@ describe('MdSnackBar', () => {
           .toBe('visible', `Expected the animation state would be 'visible'.`);
     });
   }));
+
+  it('should open a new snackbar after dismissing a previous snackbar', async(() => {
+    let config = new MdSnackBarConfig(testViewContainerRef);
+    let snackBarRef = snackBar.open(simpleMessage, 'DISMISS', config);
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+    snackBarRef.dismiss();
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+    // Wait for the snackbar dismiss animation to finish.
+    viewContainerFixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+      snackBarRef = snackBar.open('Second snackbar', 'DISMISS', config);
+      viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Wait for the snackbar open animation to finish.
+      viewContainerFixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+        expect(snackBarRef.containerInstance.animationState).toBe('visible');
+      });
+    });
+  }));
 });
 
 @Directive({selector: 'dir-with-view-container'})
diff --git a/src/lib/snack-bar/snack-bar.ts b/src/lib/snack-bar/snack-bar.ts
index e2f2c5003c4a..20c9f0ec257a 100644
--- a/src/lib/snack-bar/snack-bar.ts
+++ b/src/lib/snack-bar/snack-bar.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ export class MdSnackBar {
     let snackBarContainer = this._attachSnackBarContainer(overlayRef, config);
     let mdSnackBarRef = this._attachSnackbarContent(component, snackBarContainer, overlayRef);
 
+    // When the snackbar is dismissed, clear the reference to it.
+    mdSnackBarRef.afterDismissed().subscribe(() => {
+      this._snackBarRef = null;
+    });
+
     // If a snack bar is already in view, dismiss it and enter the new snack bar after exit
     // animation is complete.
     if (this._snackBarRef) {