diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
index 1e328390e6be..fbc743ba0ba0 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
@@ -267,6 +267,14 @@ export class MatAutocompleteTrigger implements ControlValueAccessor, OnDestroy {
     this._onTouched = fn;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Disables the input. Implemented as a part of `ControlValueAccessor`.
+   * @param isDisabled Whether the component should be disabled.
+   */
+  setDisabledState(isDisabled: boolean) {
+    this._element.nativeElement.disabled = isDisabled;
+  }
+
   _handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
     const keyCode = event.keyCode;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
index b9139a06ce99..78d78bde42d9 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
@@ -596,6 +596,22 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
           .toBe(true, `Expected control to become touched on blur.`);
     });
 
+    it('should disable the input when used with a value accessor and without `matInput`', () => {
+      fixture.destroy();
+      TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+
+      const plainFixture = createComponent(PlainAutocompleteInputWithFormControl);
+      plainFixture.detectChanges();
+      input = plainFixture.nativeElement.querySelector('input');
+
+      expect(input.disabled).toBe(false);
+
+      plainFixture.componentInstance.formControl.disable();
+      plainFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(input.disabled).toBe(true);
+    });
+
   });
 
   describe('keyboard events', () => {
@@ -1906,3 +1922,14 @@ class AutocompleteWithSelectEvent {
   @ViewChild(MatAutocompleteTrigger) trigger: MatAutocompleteTrigger;
   @ViewChild(MatAutocomplete) autocomplete: MatAutocomplete;
 }
+
+
+@Component({
+  template: `
+    <input [formControl]="formControl" [matAutocomplete]="auto"/>
+    <mat-autocomplete #auto="matAutocomplete"></mat-autocomplete>
+  `
+})
+export class PlainAutocompleteInputWithFormControl {
+  formControl = new FormControl();
+}