diff --git a/packages/mdc-layout-grid/_variables.scss b/packages/mdc-layout-grid/_variables.scss
index be838f472e8..67f9895c96c 100644
--- a/packages/mdc-layout-grid/_variables.scss
+++ b/packages/mdc-layout-grid/_variables.scss
@@ -44,4 +44,4 @@ $mdc-layout-grid-column-width: (
 
 $mdc-layout-grid-default-column-span: 4 !default;
 
-$mdc-layout-grid-max-width: null;
+$mdc-layout-grid-max-width: null !default;