diff --git a/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicViewState.js b/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicViewState.js
index e7ed4657e43..ff418bd4483 100644
--- a/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicViewState.js
+++ b/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicViewState.js
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ angular.module('ionic.ui.viewState', ['ionic.service.view', 'ionic.service.gestu
       if(tAttrs.type) tElement.addClass(tAttrs.type);
 
       return function link($scope, $element, $attr) {
-        $scope.enableBackButton = true;
+        var canHaveBackButton = !(!tAttrs.backButtonType && !tAttrs.backButtonLabel);
+        $scope.enableBackButton = canHaveBackButton;
 
         $rootScope.$on('viewState.showNavBar', function(e, showNavBar) {
           if(showNavBar === false) {
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ angular.module('ionic.ui.viewState', ['ionic.service.view', 'ionic.service.gestu
           $scope.rightButtons = data.rightButtons;
 
           if(typeof data.hideBackButton !== 'undefined') {
-            $scope.enableBackButton = data.hideBackButton !== true;
+            $scope.enableBackButton = data.hideBackButton !== true && canHaveBackButton;
           }
 
           if(data.animate !== false && $attr.animation && data.title && data.navDirection) {
diff --git a/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicView.unit.js b/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicView.unit.js
index 6be0b3958c3..089ddde7bc7 100644
--- a/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicView.unit.js
+++ b/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicView.unit.js
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@ describe('Ionic View', function() {
     expect(element.hasClass('bar-positive')).toEqual(true);
   });
 
+  it('should not show the back button if no back button attributes set', function() {
+    var element = compile('<nav-bar></nav-bar>')(scope);
+    scope.$digest();
+    var backButton = element.find('div').find('button');
+    expect(backButton.length).toEqual(0);
+  });
+
   it('should set just a back button icon, no text', function() {
     var element = compile('<nav-bar back-button-icon="ion-back" back-button-type="button-icon"></nav-bar>')(scope);
     scope.$digest();