diff --git a/src/ng/directive/ngOptions.js b/src/ng/directive/ngOptions.js
index 5f67c950e7e1..af6ad2cd716c 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/ngOptions.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/ngOptions.js
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ var ngOptionsDirective = ['$compile', '$parse', function($compile, $parse) {
           watchedArray.push(selectValue);
 
           // Only need to watch the displayFn if there is a specific label expression
-          if (match[2]) {
+          if (match[2] || match[1]) {
             var label = displayFn(scope, locals);
             watchedArray.push(label);
           }