diff --git a/src/components/input/input.js b/src/components/input/input.js
index 14b52e4b3ef..6949c2db69c 100644
--- a/src/components/input/input.js
+++ b/src/components/input/input.js
@@ -642,6 +642,10 @@ function mdMaxlengthDirective($animate, $mdUtil) {
     var ngTrim = angular.isDefined(attr.ngTrim) ? $mdUtil.parseAttributeBoolean(attr.ngTrim) : true;
     var isPasswordInput = attr.type === 'password';
 
+    scope.$watch(attr.mdMaxlength, function(value) {
+      maxlength = value;
+    });
+
     ngModelCtrl.$validators['md-maxlength'] = function(modelValue, viewValue) {
       if (!angular.isNumber(maxlength) || maxlength < 0) {
         return true;
@@ -685,7 +689,6 @@ function mdMaxlengthDirective($animate, $mdUtil) {
       });
  
       scope.$watch(attr.mdMaxlength, function(value) {
-        maxlength = value;
         if (angular.isNumber(value) && value > 0) {
           if (!charCountEl.parent().length) {
             $animate.enter(charCountEl, errorsSpacer);
diff --git a/src/components/input/input.spec.js b/src/components/input/input.spec.js
index 86962342f7f..bb7277da400 100644
--- a/src/components/input/input.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/input/input.spec.js
@@ -291,6 +291,42 @@ describe('md-input-container directive', function() {
       expect(getCharCounter(el).text()).toBe('5 / 5');
     });
 
+    it('should error with an interpolated value and incorrect initial value', function() {
+      var el = $compile(
+        '<form name="form">' +
+        '  <md-input-container>' +
+        '    <input md-maxlength="mymax" ng-model="foo" name="foo">' +
+        '  </md-input-container>' +
+        '</form>')(pageScope);
+
+        pageScope.$apply('mymax = 8');
+        pageScope.$apply('foo = "ABCDEFGHIJ"');
+
+      // Flush any pending $mdUtil.nextTick calls
+      $timeout.flush();
+
+      expect(pageScope.form.foo.$error['md-maxlength']).toBe(true);
+      expect(getCharCounter(el).text()).toBe('10 / 8');
+    });
+
+    it('should work with an interpolated value and correct initial value', function() {
+      var el = $compile(
+        '<form name="form">' +
+        '  <md-input-container>' +
+        '    <input md-maxlength="mymax" ng-model="foo" name="foo">' +
+        '  </md-input-container>' +
+        '</form>')(pageScope);
+
+      pageScope.$apply('mymax = 5');
+      pageScope.$apply('foo = "abcde"');
+
+      // Flush any pending $mdUtil.nextTick calls
+      $timeout.flush();
+
+      expect(pageScope.form.foo.$error['md-maxlength']).toBeFalsy();
+      expect(getCharCounter(el).text()).toBe('5 / 5');
+    });
+
     it('should work with a constant', function() {
       var el = $compile(
         '<form name="form">' +