diff --git a/src/lib/chips/chip-list.spec.ts b/src/lib/chips/chip-list.spec.ts
index f39987cbfa6a..da3239147f63 100644
--- a/src/lib/chips/chip-list.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/chips/chip-list.spec.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   dispatchFakeEvent,
   dispatchKeyboardEvent,
   dispatchMouseEvent,
+  typeInElement,
   MockNgZone,
 } from '@angular/cdk/testing';
 import {
@@ -993,6 +994,31 @@ describe('MatChipList', () => {
         .not.toBeNull(`Expected placeholder to have an asterisk, as control was required.`);
     });
 
+    it('should keep focus on the input after adding the first chip', fakeAsync(() => {
+      const nativeInput = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('input');
+      const chipEls = Array.from(fixture.nativeElement.querySelectorAll('.mat-chip')).reverse();
+
+      // Remove the chips via backspace to simulate the user removing them.
+      chipEls.forEach((chip: HTMLElement) => {
+        chip.focus();
+        dispatchKeyboardEvent(chip, 'keydown', BACKSPACE);
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+        tick();
+      });
+
+      nativeInput.focus();
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.foods).toEqual([], 'Expected all chips to be removed.');
+      expect(document.activeElement).toBe(nativeInput, 'Expected input to be focused.');
+
+      typeInElement('123', nativeInput);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      dispatchKeyboardEvent(nativeInput, 'keydown', ENTER);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      tick();
+
+      expect(document.activeElement).toBe(nativeInput, 'Expected input to remain focused.');
+    }));
+
     describe('keyboard behavior', () => {
       beforeEach(() => {
         chipListDebugElement = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MatChipList));
@@ -1322,7 +1348,7 @@ class MultiSelectionChipList {
     <mat-form-field>
       <mat-chip-list [multiple]="true"
                     placeholder="Food" [formControl]="control" [required]="isRequired" #chipList1>
-        <mat-chip *ngFor="let food of foods" [value]="food.value">
+        <mat-chip *ngFor="let food of foods" [value]="food.value" (removed)="remove(food)">
           {{ food.viewValue }}
         </mat-chip>
       </mat-chip-list>
@@ -1369,6 +1395,14 @@ class InputChipList {
     }
   }
 
+  remove(food: any): void {
+    const index = this.foods.indexOf(food);
+
+    if (index > -1) {
+      this.foods.splice(index, 1);
+    }
+  }
+
   @ViewChild(MatChipList) chipList: MatChipList;
   @ViewChildren(MatChip) chips: QueryList<MatChip>;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/chips/chip-list.ts b/src/lib/chips/chip-list.ts
index 3e0701692051..1e2074a90997 100644
--- a/src/lib/chips/chip-list.ts
+++ b/src/lib/chips/chip-list.ts
@@ -498,18 +498,15 @@ export class MatChipList extends _MatChipListMixinBase implements MatFormFieldCo
   }
 
   /**
-   * If the amount of chips changed, we need to update the key manager state and make sure
-   * that to so that we can refocus the
-   * next closest one.
+   * If the amount of chips changed, we need to update the
+   * key manager state and focus the next closest chip.
    */
   protected _updateFocusForDestroyedChips() {
-    if (this._lastDestroyedChipIndex == null || !this.chips.length) {
-      return;
+    if (this._lastDestroyedChipIndex != null && this.chips.length) {
+      const newChipIndex = Math.min(this._lastDestroyedChipIndex, this.chips.length - 1);
+      this._keyManager.setActiveItem(newChipIndex);
     }
 
-    const newChipIndex = Math.min(this._lastDestroyedChipIndex, this.chips.length - 1);
-
-    this._keyManager.setActiveItem(newChipIndex);
     this._lastDestroyedChipIndex = null;
   }