diff --git a/src/lib/list/selection-list.spec.ts b/src/lib/list/selection-list.spec.ts
index 9abb7c3416e2..677125d9507d 100644
--- a/src/lib/list/selection-list.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/list/selection-list.spec.ts
@@ -347,6 +347,18 @@ describe('MatSelectionList without forms', () => {
       expect(list.selectedOptions.isSelected(listOptions[0].componentInstance)).toBe(true);
       expect(list.selectedOptions.isSelected(listOptions[2].componentInstance)).toBe(true);
     });
+
+    it('should update the item selected state when it is selected via the model', () => {
+      const list: MatSelectionList = selectionList.componentInstance;
+      const item: MatListOption = listOptions[0].componentInstance;
+
+      expect(item.selected).toBe(false);
+
+      list.selectedOptions.select(item);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(item.selected).toBe(true);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('with list option selected', () => {
@@ -715,6 +727,16 @@ describe('MatSelectionList with forms', () => {
       expect(fixture.componentInstance.selectedOptions).toEqual(['opt2']);
     }));
 
+    it('should update the model if an option got selected via the model', fakeAsync(() => {
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.selectedOptions).toEqual([]);
+
+      selectionList.selectedOptions.select(listOptions[0]);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      tick();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.selectedOptions).toEqual(['opt1']);
+    }));
+
   });
 
   describe('and formControl', () => {
diff --git a/src/lib/list/selection-list.ts b/src/lib/list/selection-list.ts
index 163233c17462..2b41800f80cc 100644
--- a/src/lib/list/selection-list.ts
+++ b/src/lib/list/selection-list.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import {
   mixinTabIndex,
 } from '@angular/material/core';
 import {ControlValueAccessor, NG_VALUE_ACCESSOR} from '@angular/forms';
+import {Subscription} from 'rxjs/Subscription';
 
 
 /** @docs-private */
@@ -112,8 +113,8 @@ export class MatListOption extends _MatListOptionMixinBase
     implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnInit, FocusableOption, CanDisableRipple {
 
   private _lineSetter: MatLineSetter;
-  private _selected: boolean = false;
-  private _disabled: boolean = false;
+  private _selected = false;
+  private _disabled = false;
 
   /** Whether the option has focus. */
   _hasFocus: boolean = false;
@@ -292,7 +293,7 @@ export class MatListOption extends _MatListOptionMixinBase
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush
 })
 export class MatSelectionList extends _MatSelectionListMixinBase implements FocusableOption,
-    CanDisable, CanDisableRipple, HasTabIndex, AfterContentInit, ControlValueAccessor {
+    CanDisable, CanDisableRipple, HasTabIndex, AfterContentInit, ControlValueAccessor, OnDestroy {
 
   /** The FocusKeyManager which handles focus. */
   _keyManager: FocusKeyManager<MatListOption>;
@@ -313,6 +314,8 @@ export class MatSelectionList extends _MatSelectionListMixinBase implements Focu
   /** Used for storing the values that were assigned before the options were initialized. */
   private _tempValues: string[]|null;
 
+  private _modelChanges = Subscription.EMPTY;
+
   /** View to model callback that should be called if the list or its options lost focus. */
   _onTouched: () => void = () => {};
 
@@ -329,6 +332,25 @@ export class MatSelectionList extends _MatSelectionListMixinBase implements Focu
       this._setOptionsFromValues(this._tempValues);
       this._tempValues = null;
     }
+
+    // Sync external changes to the model back to the options.
+    this._modelChanges = this.selectedOptions.onChange!.subscribe(event => {
+      if (event.added) {
+        for (let item of event.added) {
+          item.selected = true;
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (event.removed) {
+        for (let item of event.removed) {
+          item.selected = false;
+        }
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  ngOnDestroy() {
+    this._modelChanges.unsubscribe();
   }
 
   /** Focus the selection-list. */