diff --git a/src/ng/filter/filter.js b/src/ng/filter/filter.js
index a739a1ca21c7..c0894389fd9c 100644
--- a/src/ng/filter/filter.js
+++ b/src/ng/filter/filter.js
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ function filterFilter() {
 
 // Helper functions for `filterFilter`
 function createPredicateFn(expression, comparator, matchAgainstAnyProp) {
+  var shouldMatchPrimitives = isObject(expression) && ('$' in expression);
   var predicateFn;
 
   if (comparator === true) {
@@ -163,6 +164,9 @@ function createPredicateFn(expression, comparator, matchAgainstAnyProp) {
   }
 
   predicateFn = function(item) {
+    if (shouldMatchPrimitives && !isObject(item)) {
+      return deepCompare(item, expression.$, comparator, false);
+    }
     return deepCompare(item, expression, comparator, matchAgainstAnyProp);
   };
 
diff --git a/test/ng/filter/filterSpec.js b/test/ng/filter/filterSpec.js
index 7e14f5f567f4..bd264927cb12 100644
--- a/test/ng/filter/filterSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/filter/filterSpec.js
@@ -65,6 +65,33 @@ describe('Filter: filter', function() {
   });
 
 
+  it('should match primitive array values against top-level `$` property in object expression',
+    function() {
+      var items, expr;
+
+      items = ['something', 'something else', 'another thing'];
+      expr = {$: 'some'};
+      expect(filter(items, expr).length).toBe(2);
+      expect(filter(items, expr)).toEqual([items[0], items[1]]);
+
+      items = [{val: 'something'}, {val: 'something else'}, {val: 'another thing'}];
+      expr = {$: 'some'};
+      expect(filter(items, expr).length).toBe(2);
+      expect(filter(items, expr)).toEqual([items[0], items[1]]);
+
+      items = [123, 456, 789];
+      expr = {$: 1};
+      expect(filter(items, expr).length).toBe(1);
+      expect(filter(items, expr)).toEqual([items[0]]);
+
+      items = [true, false, 'true'];
+      expr = {$: true, ignored: 'false'};
+      expect(filter(items, expr).length).toBe(2);
+      expect(filter(items, expr)).toEqual([items[0], items[2]]);
+    }
+  );
+
+
   it('should take object as predicate', function() {
     var items = [{first: 'misko', last: 'hevery'},
                  {first: 'adam', last: 'abrons'}];