diff --git a/src/tabs/tabset.component.ts b/src/tabs/tabset.component.ts
index cc9d590d64..ab5dff2a77 100644
--- a/src/tabs/tabset.component.ts
+++ b/src/tabs/tabset.component.ts
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export class TabsetComponent implements OnDestroy {
 
   addTab(tab: TabDirective): void {
     this.tabs.push(tab);
-    tab.active = this.tabs.length === 1 && tab.active;
+    tab.active = this.tabs.length === 1 && typeof tab.active === 'undefined';
   }
 
   removeTab(