diff --git a/js/angular/controller/viewController.js b/js/angular/controller/viewController.js
index 5020af7e747..076e061df5c 100644
--- a/js/angular/controller/viewController.js
+++ b/js/angular/controller/viewController.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ function($scope, $element, $attrs, $compile, $ionicHistory, $ionicViewSwitcher)
     // add listeners for when this view changes
     $scope.$on('$ionicView.beforeEnter', self.beforeEnter);
     $scope.$on('$ionicView.afterEnter', afterEnter);
-    $scope.$on('$ionicView.beforeLeave', deregisterObservers);
+    $scope.$on('$ionicView.beforeLeave', deregisterFns);
   };
 
   self.beforeEnter = function(ev, transData) {
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ function($scope, $element, $attrs, $compile, $ionicHistory, $ionicViewSwitcher)
       });
 
       // make sure any existing observers are cleaned up
-      deregisterObservers();
+      deregisterFns();
     }
   };
 
@@ -89,14 +89,14 @@ function($scope, $element, $attrs, $compile, $ionicHistory, $ionicViewSwitcher)
     }
 
     if (isDefined($attrs.hideBackButton)) {
-      deregisters.push($attrs.$observe('hideBackButton', function() {
-        navViewCtrl.showBackButton(!attrTrue('hideBackButton'));
+      deregisters.push($scope.$watch($attrs.hideBackButton, function(val) {
+        navViewCtrl.showBackButton(!val);
       }));
     }
 
     if (isDefined($attrs.hideNavBar)) {
-      deregisters.push($attrs.$observe('hideNavBar', function() {
-        navViewCtrl.showBar(!attrTrue('hideNavBar'));
+      deregisters.push($scope.$watch($attrs.hideNavBar, function(val) {
+        navViewCtrl.showBar(!val);
       }));
     }
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ function($scope, $element, $attrs, $compile, $ionicHistory, $ionicViewSwitcher)
   }
 
 
-  function deregisterObservers() {
+  function deregisterFns() {
     // remove all existing $attrs.$observe's
     for (var x = 0; x < deregisters.length; x++) {
       deregisters[x]();
diff --git a/test/unit/angular/directive/view.unit.js b/test/unit/angular/directive/view.unit.js
index d2ebc755a47..5c4e53e0fd2 100644
--- a/test/unit/angular/directive/view.unit.js
+++ b/test/unit/angular/directive/view.unit.js
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ describe('ionView directive', function() {
   }));
 
   it('should only observe hideNavBar attr after afterEnter and before beforeLeave', inject(function($rootScope) {
-    var el = setup('hide-nav-bar="{{ hide }}"', {hide: false});
+    var el = setup('hide-nav-bar="hide"', {hide: false});
     $rootScope.$broadcast('$ionicView.beforeEnter', {});
     var spy = el.data('$ionNavViewController').showBar;
     expect(spy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ describe('ionView directive', function() {
   }));
 
   it('should only observe hideBackButton attr after afterEnter and before beforeLeave', inject(function($rootScope) {
-    var el = setup('hide-back-button="{{ hide }}"', {hide: false});
+    var el = setup('hide-back-button="hide"', {hide: false});
     $rootScope.$broadcast('$ionicView.beforeEnter', {});
     var spy = el.data('$ionNavViewController').showBackButton;
     expect(spy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();