diff --git a/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.spec.ts b/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.spec.ts
index 3f87fc50749d..c9d0ff8768ee 100644
--- a/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.spec.ts
@@ -304,6 +304,10 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
         fixture.detectChanges();
       }));
 
+      it('should not throw when accessing disabled property', () => {
+        expect(() => testComponent.datepicker.disabled).not.toThrow();
+      });
+
       it('should throw when opened with no registered inputs', async(() => {
         expect(() => testComponent.datepicker.open()).toThrow();
       }));
diff --git a/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.ts b/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.ts
index cc25a957df13..cbd4c0da8cf7 100644
--- a/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.ts
+++ b/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.ts
@@ -147,7 +147,8 @@ export class MatDatepicker<D> implements OnDestroy {
   /** Whether the datepicker pop-up should be disabled. */
   @Input()
   get disabled() {
-    return this._disabled === undefined ? this._datepickerInput.disabled : this._disabled;
+    return this._disabled === undefined && this._datepickerInput ?
+        this._datepickerInput.disabled : this._disabled;
   }
   set disabled(value: any) {
     const newValue = coerceBooleanProperty(value);