diff --git a/src/datepicker/datepicker.js b/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
index 05784947d0..a6fdd9026d 100644
--- a/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
+++ b/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
@@ -427,7 +427,8 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.datepicker', ['ui.bootstrap.dateparser', 'ui.bootst
   closeText: 'Done',
   closeOnDateSelection: true,
   appendToBody: false,
-  showButtonBar: true
+  showButtonBar: true,
+  parseStrict: false
 })
 
 .directive('datepickerPopup', ['$compile', '$parse', '$document', '$position', 'dateFilter', 'dateParser', 'datepickerPopupConfig',
@@ -448,6 +449,7 @@ function ($compile, $parse, $document, $position, dateFilter, dateParser, datepi
           appendToBody = angular.isDefined(attrs.datepickerAppendToBody) ? scope.$parent.$eval(attrs.datepickerAppendToBody) : datepickerPopupConfig.appendToBody;
 
       scope.showButtonBar = angular.isDefined(attrs.showButtonBar) ? scope.$parent.$eval(attrs.showButtonBar) : datepickerPopupConfig.showButtonBar;
+      scope.parseStrict = angular.isDefined(attrs.parseStrict) ? scope.$parent.$eval(attrs.parseStrict) : datepickerPopupConfig.parseStrict;
 
       scope.getText = function( key ) {
         return scope[key + 'Text'] || datepickerPopupConfig[key + 'Text'];
@@ -509,7 +511,8 @@ function ($compile, $parse, $document, $position, dateFilter, dateParser, datepi
           ngModel.$setValidity('date', true);
           return viewValue;
         } else if (angular.isString(viewValue)) {
-          var date = dateParser.parse(viewValue, dateFormat) || new Date(viewValue);
+          var date = dateParser.parse(viewValue, dateFormat) ||
+                      ((!scope.parseStrict) ? new Date(viewValue) : undefined);
           if (isNaN(date)) {
             ngModel.$setValidity('date', false);
             return undefined;
diff --git a/src/datepicker/test/datepicker.spec.js b/src/datepicker/test/datepicker.spec.js
index b673d162da..552115f94a 100644
--- a/src/datepicker/test/datepicker.spec.js
+++ b/src/datepicker/test/datepicker.spec.js
@@ -1171,7 +1171,7 @@ describe('datepicker directive', function () {
       });
 
       it('updates the model & calendar when input value changes', function() {
-        changeInputValueTo(inputEl, 'March 5, 1980');
+        changeInputValueTo(inputEl, '1980-03-05');
 
         expect($rootScope.date.getFullYear()).toEqual(1980);
         expect($rootScope.date.getMonth()).toEqual(2);
@@ -1272,6 +1272,37 @@ describe('datepicker directive', function () {
       });
     });
 
+    describe('attribute `parse-strict`', function () {
+      beforeEach(function() {
+        $rootScope.parseStrict = true;
+        var wrapElement = $compile('<div><input ng-model="date" datepicker-popup parse-strict="parseStrict"><div>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        assignElements(wrapElement);
+      });
+
+      it('true and input with invalid date creating undefined model value', function() {
+        changeInputValueTo(inputEl, '1');
+
+        expect($rootScope.date).toEqual(undefined);
+      });
+
+    });
+
+    describe('attribute `parse-strict`', function () {
+      beforeEach(function() {
+        $rootScope.parseStrict = false;
+        var wrapElement = $compile('<div><input ng-model="date" datepicker-popup parse-strict="parseStrict"><div>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        assignElements(wrapElement);
+      });
+
+      it('false and input with invalid date creating undefined model value', function() {
+        changeInputValueTo(inputEl, '1');
+
+        expect($rootScope.date).toEqual(new Date('January 01, 2001'));
+      });
+    });
+
     describe('toggles programatically by `open` attribute', function () {
       beforeEach(inject(function() {
         $rootScope.open = true;