diff --git a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.scss b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.scss
index e4b00b9dd6cd..909086924d7a 100644
--- a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.scss
+++ b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.scss
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ md-checkbox {
   vertical-align: middle;
   white-space: nowrap;
   width: $md-checkbox-size;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
 
   [dir='rtl'] & {
     margin: {