diff --git a/packages/tab/README.md b/packages/tab/README.md
index 107292b85..c0a65e7e5 100644
--- a/packages/tab/README.md
+++ b/packages/tab/README.md
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ class MyApp extends React.Component {
 Prop Name | Type | Description
 --- | --- | ---
 active | boolean | If true will activate the tab and indicator.
+focusOnActivate | boolean | If true will focus itself when activated. Defaults to `true`.
 className | string | Classes to appear on className attribute of root element.
 isFadingIndicator | boolean | Enables a fading indicator, instead of sliding (default).
 indicatorContent | element | Element that will appear within the `<TabIndicator />` element.
diff --git a/packages/tab/index.tsx b/packages/tab/index.tsx
index cef0fa5af..f9c9104db 100644
--- a/packages/tab/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/tab/index.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import TabRipple, {TabRippleProps} from './TabRipple';
 
 export interface TabProps extends React.HTMLProps<HTMLButtonElement> {
   active?: boolean;
+  focusOnActivate?: boolean;
   isFadingIndicator?: boolean;
   indicatorContent?: React.ReactNode;
   minWidth?: boolean;
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ export default class Tab extends React.Component<TabProps, TabState> {
 
   static defaultProps: Partial<TabProps> = {
     active: false,
+    focusOnActivate: true,
     className: '',
     isFadingIndicator: false,
     indicatorContent: null,
@@ -76,9 +78,11 @@ export default class Tab extends React.Component<TabProps, TabState> {
   };
 
   componentDidMount() {
+    const {active, focusOnActivate} = this.props;
     this.foundation = new MDCTabFoundation(this.adapter);
     this.foundation.init();
-    if (this.props.active) {
+    this.foundation.setFocusOnActivate(focusOnActivate);
+    if (active) {
       this.foundation.activate();
     }
   }
@@ -88,10 +92,14 @@ export default class Tab extends React.Component<TabProps, TabState> {
   }
 
   componentDidUpdate(prevProps: TabProps) {
-    if (this.props.active !== prevProps.active) {
-      if (this.props.active) {
+    const {active, focusOnActivate, previousIndicatorClientRect} = this.props;
+    if (focusOnActivate !== prevProps.focusOnActivate) {
+      this.foundation.setFocusOnActivate(focusOnActivate);
+    }
+    if (active !== prevProps.active) {
+      if (active) {
         // If active state is updated through props, previousIndicatorClientRect must also be passed through props
-        this.activate(this.props.previousIndicatorClientRect);
+        this.activate(previousIndicatorClientRect);
       } else {
         this.deactivate();
       }
@@ -176,6 +184,7 @@ export default class Tab extends React.Component<TabProps, TabState> {
     const {
       /* eslint-disable */
       active,
+      focusOnActivate,
       previousIndicatorClientRect,
       className,
       isFadingIndicator,
diff --git a/test/unit/tab/index.test.tsx b/test/unit/tab/index.test.tsx
index 5787a66d5..92797aed7 100644
--- a/test/unit/tab/index.test.tsx
+++ b/test/unit/tab/index.test.tsx
@@ -65,6 +65,56 @@ test('if props.active updates to false, foundation.deactivate is called', () =>
   td.verify(wrapper.instance().deactivate(), {times: 1});
 });
 
+test('calls foundation.setFocusOnActivate when props.focusOnActivate changes from false to true', () => {
+  const wrapper = shallow<Tab>(<Tab focusOnActivate={false} />);
+  wrapper.instance().foundation.setFocusOnActivate = td.func();
+  wrapper.setProps({focusOnActivate: true});
+  td.verify(wrapper.instance().foundation.setFocusOnActivate(true), {times: 1});
+});
+
+test('calls foundation.setFocusOnActivate when props.focusOnActivate changes from true to false', () => {
+  const wrapper = shallow<Tab>(<Tab focusOnActivate />);
+  wrapper.instance().foundation.setFocusOnActivate = td.func();
+  wrapper.setProps({focusOnActivate: false});
+  td.verify(wrapper.instance().foundation.setFocusOnActivate(false), {times: 1});
+});
+
+test('when props.focusOnActivate is true, an active tab should be focused on mount', () => {
+  const div = document.createElement('div');
+  document.body.append(div);
+  const wrapper = mount<Tab>(<Tab active focusOnActivate />, {attachTo: div});
+  assert.equal(document.activeElement, wrapper.getDOMNode());
+  div.remove();
+});
+
+test('when props.focusOnActivate is true and active is changed to true, the tab should be focused', () => {
+  const div = document.createElement('div');
+  document.body.append(div);
+  const wrapper = mount<Tab>(<Tab focusOnActivate />, {attachTo: div});
+  assert.notEqual(document.activeElement, wrapper.getDOMNode());
+  wrapper.setProps({active: true});
+  assert.equal(document.activeElement, wrapper.getDOMNode());
+  div.remove();
+});
+
+test('when props.focusOnActivate is false, an active tab should not be focused on mount', () => {
+  const div = document.createElement('div');
+  document.body.append(div);
+  const wrapper = mount<Tab>(<Tab active focusOnActivate={false} />, {attachTo: div});
+  assert.notEqual(document.activeElement, wrapper.getDOMNode());
+  div.remove();
+});
+
+test('when props.focusOnActivate is false and active is changed to true, the tab should not be focused', () => {
+  const div = document.createElement('div');
+  document.body.append(div);
+  const wrapper = mount<Tab>(<Tab focusOnActivate={false} />, {attachTo: div});
+  assert.notEqual(document.activeElement, wrapper.getDOMNode());
+  wrapper.setProps({active: true});
+  assert.notEqual(document.activeElement, wrapper.getDOMNode());
+  div.remove();
+});
+
 test('#adapter.addClass adds class to state.classList', () => {
   const wrapper = shallow<Tab>(<Tab />);
   wrapper.instance().adapter.addClass('test-class');