diff --git a/src/modal/modal.js b/src/modal/modal.js
index 26fe849335..e5bcdb8815 100644
--- a/src/modal/modal.js
+++ b/src/modal/modal.js
@@ -141,7 +141,10 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.modal', ['ui.bootstrap.transition'])
         openedWindows.remove(modalInstance);
 
         //remove window DOM element
-        removeAfterAnimate(modalWindow.modalDomEl, modalWindow.modalScope, 300, checkRemoveBackdrop);
+        removeAfterAnimate(modalWindow.modalDomEl, modalWindow.modalScope, 300, function() {
+          modalWindow.modalScope.$destroy();
+          checkRemoveBackdrop();
+        });
         body.toggleClass(OPENED_MODAL_CLASS, openedWindows.length() > 0);
       }
 
diff --git a/src/modal/test/modal.spec.js b/src/modal/test/modal.spec.js
index 55bb9782a5..6c6259a15b 100644
--- a/src/modal/test/modal.spec.js
+++ b/src/modal/test/modal.spec.js
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ describe('$modal', function () {
 
     describe('scope', function () {
 
-      it('should custom scope if provided', function () {
+      it('should use custom scope if provided', function () {
         var $scope = $rootScope.$new();
         $scope.fromScope = 'Content from custom scope';
         open({
@@ -344,6 +344,17 @@ describe('$modal', function () {
         });
         expect($document).toHaveModalOpenWithContent('Content from custom scope', 'div');
       });
+
+      it('should create and use child of $rootScope if custom scope not provided', function () {
+
+        var scopeTailBefore = $rootScope.$$childTail;
+
+        $rootScope.fromScope = 'Content from root scope';
+        open({
+          template: '<div>{{fromScope}}</div>'
+        });
+        expect($document).toHaveModalOpenWithContent('Content from root scope', 'div');
+      });
     });
 
     describe('keyboard', function () {