diff --git a/src/core/ReactDOMTextarea.js b/src/core/ReactDOMTextarea.js
index f7c9eaae30..f484da01cb 100644
--- a/src/core/ReactDOMTextarea.js
+++ b/src/core/ReactDOMTextarea.js
@@ -39,6 +39,16 @@ var getTextContent = function(props) {
  * we intercept prop changes here to make sure that value is updated.
  */
 var ReactDOMTextarea = ReactCompositeComponent.createClass({
+  getInitialState: function() {
+    // We keep the original value of content and children here so that
+    // ReactNativeComponent doesn't update textContent (unnecessary since we
+    // update value).
+    return {
+      initialContent: this.props.content,
+      initialChildren: this.props.children
+    };
+  },
+
   render: function() {
     invariant(
       this.props.dangerouslySetInnerHTML == null,
@@ -48,13 +58,15 @@ var ReactDOMTextarea = ReactCompositeComponent.createClass({
       this.props.children == null || CONTENT_TYPES[typeof this.props.children],
       'When present, textarea children must be a single string or number.'
     );
-    return this.transferPropsTo(textarea(null, this.props.children));
+    return this.transferPropsTo(textarea({
+      content: this.state.initialContent
+    }, this.state.initialChildren));
   },
 
   componentDidUpdate: function(prevProps, prevState, rootNode) {
     var oldContent = getTextContent(prevProps);
     var newContent = getTextContent(this.props);
-    if (oldContent !== newContent && rootNode.value !== newContent) {
+    if (oldContent !== newContent) {
       rootNode.value = newContent;
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/core/__tests__/ReactDOMTextarea-test.js b/src/core/__tests__/ReactDOMTextarea-test.js
index 00f7bed92d..1fb6d97820 100644
--- a/src/core/__tests__/ReactDOMTextarea-test.js
+++ b/src/core/__tests__/ReactDOMTextarea-test.js
@@ -27,16 +27,13 @@ describe('ReactDOMTextarea', function() {
   beforeEach(function() {
     React = require('React');
     ReactTestUtils = require('ReactTestUtils');
-
-    var ReactReconcileTransaction = require('ReactReconcileTransaction');
-    transaction = new ReactReconcileTransaction();
   });
 
   it("should remove value with removed children", function() {
     var stub = ReactTestUtils.renderIntoDocument(<textarea>giraffe</textarea>);
 
     expect(stub.getDOMNode().value).toEqual('giraffe');
-    stub.receiveProps({ children: null }, transaction);
+    stub.replaceProps({ children: null });
     expect(stub.getDOMNode().value).toEqual('');
   });
 
@@ -44,7 +41,7 @@ describe('ReactDOMTextarea', function() {
     var stub = ReactTestUtils.renderIntoDocument(<textarea>monkey</textarea>);
 
     expect(stub.getDOMNode().value).toEqual('monkey');
-    stub.receiveProps({ children: 'gorilla' }, transaction);
+    stub.replaceProps({ children: 'gorilla' });
     expect(stub.getDOMNode().value).toEqual('gorilla');
   });
 
@@ -52,7 +49,7 @@ describe('ReactDOMTextarea', function() {
     var stub = ReactTestUtils.renderIntoDocument(<textarea>17</textarea>);
 
     expect(stub.getDOMNode().value).toEqual('17');
-    stub.receiveProps({ children: 289 }, transaction);
+    stub.replaceProps({ children: 289 });
     expect(stub.getDOMNode().value).toEqual('289');
   });
 
@@ -60,7 +57,7 @@ describe('ReactDOMTextarea', function() {
     var stub = ReactTestUtils.renderIntoDocument(<textarea content="purple" />);
 
     expect(stub.getDOMNode().value).toEqual('purple');
-    stub.receiveProps({ content: 'eggplant' }, transaction);
+    stub.replaceProps({ content: 'eggplant' });
     expect(stub.getDOMNode().value).toEqual('eggplant');
   });
 });