diff --git a/src/lib/core/ripple/index.ts b/src/lib/core/ripple/index.ts
index 45dea58ec64f..aab611db0302 100644
--- a/src/lib/core/ripple/index.ts
+++ b/src/lib/core/ripple/index.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import {CompatibilityModule} from '../compatibility/compatibility';
 import {VIEWPORT_RULER_PROVIDER} from '../overlay/position/viewport-ruler';
 import {SCROLL_DISPATCHER_PROVIDER} from '../overlay/scroll/scroll-dispatcher';
 
-export {MdRipple} from './ripple';
+export {MdRipple, MD_DISABLE_RIPPLES} from './ripple';
 export {RippleRef, RippleState} from './ripple-ref';
 export {RippleConfig} from './ripple-renderer';
 
diff --git a/src/lib/core/ripple/ripple.spec.ts b/src/lib/core/ripple/ripple.spec.ts
index 6db9435fdd0a..330da08fea53 100644
--- a/src/lib/core/ripple/ripple.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/core/ripple/ripple.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import {TestBed, ComponentFixture, fakeAsync, tick, inject} from '@angular/core/testing';
 import {Component, ViewChild} from '@angular/core';
-import {MdRipple, MdRippleModule, RippleState} from './index';
+import {MdRipple, MdRippleModule, MD_DISABLE_RIPPLES, RippleState} from './index';
 import {ViewportRuler} from '../overlay/position/viewport-ruler';
 import {RIPPLE_FADE_OUT_DURATION, RIPPLE_FADE_IN_DURATION} from './ripple-renderer';
 import {dispatchMouseEvent} from '../testing/dispatch-events';
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ describe('MdRipple', () => {
 
   beforeEach(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
-      imports: [MdRippleModule.forRoot()],
+      imports: [MdRippleModule],
       declarations: [
         BasicRippleContainer,
         RippleContainerWithInputBindings,
@@ -346,6 +346,50 @@ describe('MdRipple', () => {
 
   });
 
+  describe('with ripples disabled', () => {
+    let rippleDirective: MdRipple;
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      // Reset the previously configured testing module to be able to disable ripples globally.
+      // The testing module has been initialized in the root describe group for the ripples.
+      TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+      TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+        imports: [MdRippleModule],
+        declarations: [BasicRippleContainer],
+        providers: [{ provide: MD_DISABLE_RIPPLES, useValue: true }]
+      });
+    });
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(BasicRippleContainer);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      rippleTarget = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('[mat-ripple]');
+      rippleDirective = fixture.componentInstance.ripple;
+    });
+
+    it('should not show any ripples on mousedown', () => {
+      dispatchMouseEvent(rippleTarget, 'mousedown');
+      dispatchMouseEvent(rippleTarget, 'mouseup');
+
+      expect(rippleTarget.querySelectorAll('.mat-ripple-element').length).toBe(0);
+
+      dispatchMouseEvent(rippleTarget, 'mousedown');
+      dispatchMouseEvent(rippleTarget, 'mouseup');
+
+      expect(rippleTarget.querySelectorAll('.mat-ripple-element').length).toBe(0);
+    });
+
+    it('should still allow manual ripples', () => {
+      expect(rippleTarget.querySelectorAll('.mat-ripple-element').length).toBe(0);
+
+      rippleDirective.launch(0, 0);
+
+      expect(rippleTarget.querySelectorAll('.mat-ripple-element').length).toBe(1);
+    });
+
+  });
+
   describe('configuring behavior', () => {
     let controller: RippleContainerWithInputBindings;
     let rippleComponent: MdRipple;
diff --git a/src/lib/core/ripple/ripple.ts b/src/lib/core/ripple/ripple.ts
index 5218e7e75e94..844cf20144b7 100644
--- a/src/lib/core/ripple/ripple.ts
+++ b/src/lib/core/ripple/ripple.ts
@@ -2,15 +2,20 @@ import {
   Directive,
   ElementRef,
   Input,
+  Inject,
   NgZone,
   OnChanges,
   SimpleChanges,
   OnDestroy,
+  OpaqueToken,
+  Optional,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {RippleConfig, RippleRenderer} from './ripple-renderer';
 import {ViewportRuler} from '../overlay/position/viewport-ruler';
 import {RippleRef} from './ripple-ref';
 
+/** OpaqueToken that can be used to globally disable all ripples. Except programmatic ones. */
+export const MD_DISABLE_RIPPLES = new OpaqueToken('md-disable-ripples');
 
 @Directive({
   selector: '[md-ripple], [mat-ripple]',
@@ -65,7 +70,9 @@ export class MdRipple implements OnChanges, OnDestroy {
   /** Renderer for the ripple DOM manipulations. */
   private _rippleRenderer: RippleRenderer;
 
-  constructor(elementRef: ElementRef, ngZone: NgZone, ruler: ViewportRuler) {
+  constructor(elementRef: ElementRef, ngZone: NgZone, ruler: ViewportRuler,
+              @Optional() @Inject(MD_DISABLE_RIPPLES) private _forceDisableRipples: boolean) {
+
     this._rippleRenderer = new RippleRenderer(elementRef, ngZone, ruler);
   }
 
@@ -74,7 +81,7 @@ export class MdRipple implements OnChanges, OnDestroy {
       this._rippleRenderer.setTriggerElement(this.trigger);
     }
 
-    this._rippleRenderer.rippleDisabled = this.disabled;
+    this._rippleRenderer.rippleDisabled = this._forceDisableRipples || this.disabled;
     this._rippleRenderer.rippleConfig = this.rippleConfig;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.ts b/src/lib/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.ts
index 930f8a9a2f1e..5a0968b36f7f 100644
--- a/src/lib/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.ts
@@ -5,11 +5,9 @@ import {
   ElementRef,
   ViewEncapsulation,
   Directive,
-  NgZone,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {MdInkBar} from '../ink-bar';
 import {MdRipple} from '../../core/ripple/index';
-import {ViewportRuler} from '../../core/overlay/position/viewport-ruler';
 
 /**
  * Navigation component matching the styles of the tab group header.
@@ -81,9 +79,4 @@ export class MdTabLink {
     '[class.mat-tab-link]': 'true',
   },
 })
-export class MdTabLinkRipple extends MdRipple {
-  constructor(elementRef: ElementRef, ngZone: NgZone, ruler: ViewportRuler) {
-    super(elementRef, ngZone, ruler);
-  }
-
-}
+export class MdTabLinkRipple extends MdRipple {}