diff --git a/homeassistant/components/cover/mqtt.py b/homeassistant/components/cover/mqtt.py
index 8c455a911b4..8226cb1a5fb 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/cover/mqtt.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/cover/mqtt.py
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ import voluptuous as vol
 
 from homeassistant.core import callback
 import homeassistant.components.mqtt as mqtt
-from homeassistant.components.cover import CoverDevice, ATTR_TILT_POSITION
+from homeassistant.components.cover import (
+    CoverDevice, ATTR_TILT_POSITION, SUPPORT_OPEN_TILT,
+    SUPPORT_CLOSE_TILT, SUPPORT_STOP_TILT, SUPPORT_SET_TILT_POSITION,
+    SUPPORT_OPEN, SUPPORT_CLOSE, SUPPORT_STOP, SUPPORT_SET_POSITION)
 from homeassistant.const import (
     CONF_NAME, CONF_VALUE_TEMPLATE, CONF_OPTIMISTIC, STATE_OPEN,
     STATE_CLOSED, STATE_UNKNOWN)
@@ -50,6 +53,9 @@ DEFAULT_TILT_MIN = 0
 DEFAULT_TILT_MAX = 100
 DEFAULT_TILT_OPTIMISTIC = False
 
+TILT_FEATURES = (SUPPORT_OPEN_TILT | SUPPORT_CLOSE_TILT | SUPPORT_STOP_TILT |
+                 SUPPORT_SET_TILT_POSITION)
+
 PLATFORM_SCHEMA = mqtt.MQTT_RW_PLATFORM_SCHEMA.extend({
     vol.Optional(CONF_NAME, default=DEFAULT_NAME): cv.string,
     vol.Optional(CONF_PAYLOAD_OPEN, default=DEFAULT_PAYLOAD_OPEN): cv.string,
@@ -130,7 +136,7 @@ class MqttCover(CoverDevice):
         self._tilt_closed_position = tilt_closed_position
         self._optimistic = optimistic or state_topic is None
         self._template = value_template
-        self._tilt_value = STATE_UNKNOWN
+        self._tilt_value = None
         self._tilt_min = tilt_min
         self._tilt_max = tilt_max
         self._tilt_optimistic = tilt_optimistic
@@ -186,6 +192,8 @@ class MqttCover(CoverDevice):
         if self._tilt_status_topic is None:
             self._tilt_optimistic = True
         else:
+            self._tilt_optimistic = False
+            self._tilt_value = STATE_UNKNOWN
             yield from mqtt.async_subscribe(
                 self.hass, self._tilt_status_topic, tilt_updated, self._qos)
 
@@ -217,6 +225,19 @@ class MqttCover(CoverDevice):
         """Return current position of cover tilt."""
         return self._tilt_value
 
+    @property
+    def supported_features(self):
+        """Flag supported features."""
+        supported_features = SUPPORT_OPEN | SUPPORT_CLOSE | SUPPORT_STOP
+
+        if self.current_cover_position is not None:
+            supported_features |= SUPPORT_SET_POSITION
+
+        if self._tilt_command_topic is not None:
+            supported_features |= TILT_FEATURES
+
+        return supported_features
+
     @asyncio.coroutine
     def async_open_cover(self, **kwargs):
         """Move the cover up.
diff --git a/tests/components/cover/test_mqtt.py b/tests/components/cover/test_mqtt.py
index 494c1f0bf33..b2dcf8e175d 100644
--- a/tests/components/cover/test_mqtt.py
+++ b/tests/components/cover/test_mqtt.py
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ class TestCoverMQTT(unittest.TestCase):
         state_attributes_dict = self.hass.states.get(
             'cover.test').attributes
         self.assertFalse('current_position' in state_attributes_dict)
+        self.assertFalse('current_tilt_position' in state_attributes_dict)
 
         fire_mqtt_message(self.hass, 'state-topic', '0')
         self.hass.block_till_done()