diff --git a/src/tabs/tabs.js b/src/tabs/tabs.js
index db998b0d47..dbda75ca29 100644
--- a/src/tabs/tabs.js
+++ b/src/tabs/tabs.js
@@ -196,8 +196,13 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.tabs', [])
         if (attrs.active) {
           getActive = $parse(attrs.active);
           setActive = getActive.assign;
-          scope.$parent.$watch(getActive, function updateActive(value) {
-            scope.active = !!value;
+          scope.$parent.$watch(getActive, function updateActive(value, oldVal) {
+            // Avoid re-initializing scope.active as it is already initialized
+            // below. (watcher is called async during init with value ===
+            // oldVal)
+            if (value !== oldVal) {
+              scope.active = !!value;
+            }
           });
           scope.active = getActive(scope.$parent);
         } else {
@@ -205,6 +210,8 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.tabs', [])
         }
 
         scope.$watch('active', function(active) {
+          // Note this watcher also initializes and assigns scope.active to the
+          // attrs.active expression.
           setActive(scope.$parent, active);
           if (active) {
             tabsetCtrl.select(scope);
@@ -231,9 +238,6 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.tabs', [])
         scope.$on('$destroy', function() {
           tabsetCtrl.removeTab(scope);
         });
-        if (scope.active) {
-          setActive(scope.$parent, true);
-        }
 
 
         //We need to transclude later, once the content container is ready.
diff --git a/src/tabs/test/tabsSpec.js b/src/tabs/test/tabsSpec.js
index 692d42a9f4..61215db39b 100644
--- a/src/tabs/test/tabsSpec.js
+++ b/src/tabs/test/tabsSpec.js
@@ -102,6 +102,57 @@ describe('tabs', function() {
 
   });
 
+  describe('basics with initial active tab', function() {
+
+    beforeEach(inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+      scope = $rootScope.$new();
+
+      function makeTab(active) {
+        return {
+          active: !!active,
+          select: jasmine.createSpy()
+        };
+      }
+      scope.tabs = [
+        makeTab(), makeTab(), makeTab(true), makeTab()
+      ];
+      elm = $compile([
+        '<tabset>',
+        '  <tab active="tabs[0].active" select="tabs[0].select()">',
+        '  </tab>',
+        '  <tab active="tabs[1].active" select="tabs[1].select()">',
+        '  </tab>',
+        '  <tab active="tabs[2].active" select="tabs[2].select()">',
+        '  </tab>',
+        '  <tab active="tabs[3].active" select="tabs[3].select()">',
+        '  </tab>',
+        '</tabset>'
+      ].join('\n'))(scope);
+      scope.$apply();
+    }));
+
+    function expectTabActive(activeTab) {
+      var _titles = titles();
+      angular.forEach(scope.tabs, function(tab, i) {
+        if (activeTab === tab) {
+          expect(tab.active).toBe(true);
+          //It should only call select ONCE for each select
+          expect(tab.select).toHaveBeenCalled();
+          expect(_titles.eq(i)).toHaveClass('active');
+          expect(contents().eq(i)).toHaveClass('active');
+        } else {
+          expect(tab.active).toBe(false);
+          expect(_titles.eq(i)).not.toHaveClass('active');
+        }
+      });
+    }
+
+    it('should make tab titles and set active tab active', function() {
+      expect(titles().length).toBe(scope.tabs.length);
+      expectTabActive(scope.tabs[2]);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('ng-repeat', function() {
 
     beforeEach(inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {