diff --git a/src/lib/checkbox/_checkbox-theme.scss b/src/lib/checkbox/_checkbox-theme.scss
index 6b0e22a5c740..5a9963521f83 100644
--- a/src/lib/checkbox/_checkbox-theme.scss
+++ b/src/lib/checkbox/_checkbox-theme.scss
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
     }
   }
 
-  .md-checkbox:not(.md-checkbox-disabled) {
+  md-checkbox:not(.md-checkbox-disabled) {
     &.md-primary .md-checkbox-ripple .md-ripple-foreground {
       background-color: md-color($primary, 0.26);
     }