diff --git a/lib/utils/settings.html b/lib/utils/settings.html
index 56e91f1945..0548ad3c2c 100644
--- a/lib/utils/settings.html
+++ b/lib/utils/settings.html
@@ -102,6 +102,6 @@
    *
    * @memberof Polymer
    */
-  Polymer.passiveTouchGestures = false;
+  Polymer.passiveTouchGestures = Polymer.passiveTouchGestures || false;
 })();
 </script>
diff --git a/test/smoke/passive-gestures.html b/test/smoke/passive-gestures.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..300496065d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/smoke/passive-gestures.html
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+<!doctype html>
+<!--
+@license
+Copyright (c) 2017 The Polymer Project Authors. All rights reserved.
+This code may only be used under the BSD style license found at http://polymer.github.io/LICENSE.txt
+The complete set of authors may be found at http://polymer.github.io/AUTHORS.txt
+The complete set of contributors may be found at http://polymer.github.io/CONTRIBUTORS.txt
+Code distributed by Google as part of the polymer project is also
+subject to an additional IP rights grant found at http://polymer.github.io/PATENTS.txt
+-->
+<html>
+<head>
+  <script src="../../../webcomponentsjs/webcomponents-loader.js"></script>
+  <script>Polymer = {passiveTouchGestures: true}</script>
+  <link rel="import" href="../../polymer.html">
+  <style>
+    html, body {
+      margin: 0;
+      padding: 0;
+    }
+  </style>
+</head>
+<body>
+  <dom-module id="x-passive">
+    <template>
+      <style>
+        :host {
+          display: block;
+          height: 2000px;
+          background-color: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, from(blue), to(red));
+          background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, blue, red);
+          background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top, blue, red);
+          background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, blue, red);
+        }
+      </style>
+    </template>
+  </dom-module>
+  <script>
+    Polymer({
+      is: 'x-passive',
+      listeners: {
+        'down': 'prevent',
+        'move': 'prevent'
+      },
+      prevent(e) {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        console.log('prevented!');
+      }
+    });
+  </script>
+  <x-passive></x-passive>
+</body>
+</html>
\ No newline at end of file
