diff --git a/src/ng/directive/ngOptions.js b/src/ng/directive/ngOptions.js
index e07aa137f2a6..acdb9648f51a 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/ngOptions.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/ngOptions.js
@@ -395,14 +395,11 @@ var ngOptionsDirective = ['$compile', '$parse', function($compile, $parse) {
   return {
     restrict: 'A',
     terminal: true,
-    require: ['select', '?ngModel'],
+    require: ['select', 'ngModel'],
     link: function(scope, selectElement, attr, ctrls) {
 
-      // if ngModel is not defined, we don't need to do anything
-      var ngModelCtrl = ctrls[1];
-      if (!ngModelCtrl) return;
-
       var selectCtrl = ctrls[0];
+      var ngModelCtrl = ctrls[1];
       var multiple = attr.multiple;
 
       // The emptyOption allows the application developer to provide their own custom "empty"
diff --git a/test/ng/directive/ngOptionsSpec.js b/test/ng/directive/ngOptionsSpec.js
index 40cb245253d5..f66a56df034c 100644
--- a/test/ng/directive/ngOptionsSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/directive/ngOptionsSpec.js
@@ -156,10 +156,10 @@ describe('ngOptions', function() {
   });
 
 
-  it('should have optional dependency on ngModel', function() {
+  it('should have a dependency on ngModel', function() {
     expect(function() {
       compile('<select ng-options="item in items"></select>');
-    }).not.toThrow();
+    }).toThrow();
   });