diff --git a/core/src/components/tabs/tabs.tsx b/core/src/components/tabs/tabs.tsx
index ca144a762b..074e69da2b 100644
--- a/core/src/components/tabs/tabs.tsx
+++ b/core/src/components/tabs/tabs.tsx
@@ -49,14 +49,11 @@ export class Tabs implements NavOutlet {
       this.useRouter = !!this.doc.querySelector('ion-router') && !this.el.closest('[no-router]');
     }
     this.tabs = Array.from(this.el.querySelectorAll('ion-tab'));
+    await this.initSelect();
     this.ionNavWillLoad.emit();
     this.componentWillUpdate();
   }
 
-  componentDidLoad() {
-    this.initSelect();
-  }
-
   componentDidUnload() {
     this.tabs.length = 0;
     this.selectedTab = this.leavingTab = undefined;
@@ -156,6 +153,7 @@ export class Tabs implements NavOutlet {
     }
     // wait for all tabs to be ready
     await Promise.all(this.tabs.map(tab => tab.componentOnReady()));
+
     await this.select(this.tabs[0]);
   }