diff --git a/packages/select/src/components/query-list/queryList.tsx b/packages/select/src/components/query-list/queryList.tsx
index c76432f2f4..1b6bdf8126 100644
--- a/packages/select/src/components/query-list/queryList.tsx
+++ b/packages/select/src/components/query-list/queryList.tsx
@@ -109,7 +109,14 @@ export class QueryList<T> extends React.Component<IQueryListProps<T>, IQueryList
         super(props, context);
         const { query = "" } = this.props;
         const filteredItems = getFilteredItems(query, this.props);
-        this.state = { activeItem: getFirstEnabledItem(filteredItems, this.props.itemDisabled), filteredItems, query };
+        this.state = {
+            activeItem:
+                this.props.activeItem !== undefined
+                    ? this.props.activeItem
+                    : getFirstEnabledItem(filteredItems, this.props.itemDisabled),
+            filteredItems,
+            query,
+        };
     }
 
     public render() {
diff --git a/packages/select/test/queryListTests.tsx b/packages/select/test/queryListTests.tsx
index 3a2b26855c..bff202fe01 100644
--- a/packages/select/test/queryListTests.tsx
+++ b/packages/select/test/queryListTests.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import { IQueryListProps } from "@blueprintjs/select";
 import { IFilm, renderFilm, TOP_100_FILMS } from "../../docs-app/src/examples/select-examples/films";
 import { IQueryListRendererProps, IQueryListState, ItemListPredicate, ItemListRenderer, QueryList } from "../src/index";
 
+type FilmQueryListWrapper = ReactWrapper<IQueryListProps<IFilm>, IQueryListState<IFilm>>;
+
 describe("<QueryList>", () => {
     const FilmQueryList = QueryList.ofType<IFilm>();
     const testProps = {
@@ -99,7 +101,7 @@ describe("<QueryList>", () => {
                 items: [myItem],
                 query: "",
             };
-            const filmQueryList: ReactWrapper<IQueryListProps<IFilm>> = mount(<FilmQueryList {...props} />);
+            const filmQueryList: FilmQueryListWrapper = mount(<FilmQueryList {...props} />);
             filmQueryList.setProps(props);
             assert.equal(testProps.onActiveItemChange.callCount, 0);
         });
@@ -110,9 +112,7 @@ describe("<QueryList>", () => {
                 items: [TOP_100_FILMS[0]],
                 query: "abc",
             };
-            const filmQueryList: ReactWrapper<IQueryListProps<IFilm>, IQueryListState<IFilm>> = mount(
-                <FilmQueryList {...props} />,
-            );
+            const filmQueryList: FilmQueryListWrapper = mount(<FilmQueryList {...props} />);
             assert.deepEqual(filmQueryList.state().activeItem, TOP_100_FILMS[0]);
             filmQueryList.setProps({
                 items: [TOP_100_FILMS[1]],
@@ -122,6 +122,39 @@ describe("<QueryList>", () => {
         });
     });
 
+    describe("activeItem state initialization", () => {
+        it("initializes to first filtered item when uncontrolled", () => {
+            const props: IQueryListProps<IFilm> = {
+                ...testProps,
+                // Filter down to only item at index 11, so item at index 11 should be
+                // chosen as default activeItem
+                itemPredicate: (_query, item) => item === TOP_100_FILMS[11],
+                query: "123",
+            };
+            const filmQueryList: FilmQueryListWrapper = mount(<FilmQueryList {...props} />);
+            assert(filmQueryList.state().activeItem === TOP_100_FILMS[11]);
+        });
+
+        it("initializes to controlled activeItem prop (non-null)", () => {
+            const props: IQueryListProps<IFilm> = {
+                ...testProps,
+                // List is not filtered, and item at index 11 is explicitly chosen as activeItem
+                activeItem: TOP_100_FILMS[11],
+            };
+            const filmQueryList: FilmQueryListWrapper = mount(<FilmQueryList {...props} />);
+            assert(filmQueryList.state().activeItem === TOP_100_FILMS[11]);
+        });
+
+        it("initializes to controlled activeItem prop (null)", () => {
+            const props: IQueryListProps<IFilm> = {
+                ...testProps,
+                activeItem: null,
+            };
+            const filmQueryList: FilmQueryListWrapper = mount(<FilmQueryList {...props} />);
+            assert(filmQueryList.state().activeItem === null);
+        });
+    });
+
     describe("scrolling", () => {
         it("brings active item into view");
     });