diff --git a/src/instance/mdv.js b/src/instance/mdv.js
index f742bec..0eb6840 100644
--- a/src/instance/mdv.js
+++ b/src/instance/mdv.js
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
   // element api supporting mdv
   var mdv = {
     instanceTemplate: function(template) {
+      // ensure template is decorated (lets' things like <tr template ...> work)
+      HTMLTemplateElement.decorate(template);
       // ensure a default bindingDelegate
       var syntax = this.syntax || (!template.bindingDelegate &&
           this.element.syntax);
diff --git a/test/html/template-attr-template-import.html b/test/html/template-attr-template-import.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f43bfdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/html/template-attr-template-import.html
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<polymer-element name="decoration-test">
+  <template>
+    <select id="select">
+      <option template repeat="{{opt in options}}" value="{{opt}}">{{opt}}</option>
+    </select>
+  </template>
+  <script>
+    Polymer('decoration-test', {
+      options: [1, 2, 3, 4],
+      ready: function() {
+        this.test();
+        testsRun++;
+      },
+      test: function() {
+        chai.assert.equal(this.$.select.children.length, 5, 'attribute template stamped');
+      }
+    });
+  </script>
+</polymer-element>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/html/template-attr-template.html b/test/html/template-attr-template.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57e9bff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/html/template-attr-template.html
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+<!doctype html>
+<!--
+Copyright (c) 2014 The Polymer Project Authors. All rights reserved.
+This code may only be used under the BSD style license found at http://polymer.github.io/LICENSE.txt
+The complete set of authors may be found at http://polymer.github.io/AUTHORS.txt
+The complete set of contributors may be found at http://polymer.github.io/CONTRIBUTORS.txt
+Code distributed by Google as part of the polymer project is also
+subject to an additional IP rights grant found at http://polymer.github.io/PATENTS.txt
+-->
+<script src="../../../platform/platform.js"></script>
+<link rel="import" href="../../polymer.html">
+<link rel="import" href="template-attr-template-import.html">
+<script src="../../../tools/test/htmltest.js"></script>
+<script src="../../../tools/test/chai/chai.js"></script>
+<script>
+  var testsRun = 0;
+</script>
+
+
+<polymer-element name="decoration-test2" extends="decoration-test">
+  <template>
+    <table>
+      <thead>
+        <th>one</th>
+        <th>two</th>
+        <th>three</th>
+      </thead>
+      <tbody id="tbody">
+        <tr template repeat="{{ arr in arrs }}">
+          <td template repeat="{{ n in arr }}">
+            {{n}}
+          </td>
+        </tr>
+      </tbody>
+    </table>
+  </template>
+  <script>
+    Polymer('decoration-test2', {
+      arrs: [ [1,2,3], [4,5,6] ],
+      test: function() {
+        chai.assert.equal(this.$.tbody.children.length, 3, 'attribute template stamped');
+        chai.assert.equal(this.$.tbody.children[1].children.length, 4, 'attribute sub-template stamped');
+      }
+    });
+  </script>
+</polymer-element>
+
+<decoration-test></decoration-test>
+<br>
+<decoration-test2></decoration-test2>
+
+
+<script>
+  document.addEventListener('polymer-ready', function() {
+    chai.assert.equal(testsRun, 2, 'decration tests ran');
+    done();
+  });
+</script>
diff --git a/test/js/bindMDV.js b/test/js/bindMDV.js
index 6457582..54a87b6 100644
--- a/test/js/bindMDV.js
+++ b/test/js/bindMDV.js
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ suite('bindMDV', function() {
 
 htmlSuite('bind', function() {
   htmlTest('html/template-distribute-dynamic.html');
+  htmlTest('html/template-attr-template.html');
   htmlTest('html/bind.html');
   htmlTest('html/unbind.html');
   htmlTest('html/prop-attr-bind-reflection.html');
