diff --git a/src/ng/directive/form.js b/src/ng/directive/form.js
index ca055cb1fc6d..d98bc512a8fa 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/form.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/form.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function FormController(element, attrs) {
       controls = [];
 
   // init state
-  form.$name = attrs.name;
+  form.$name = attrs.name || attrs.ngForm;
   form.$dirty = false;
   form.$pristine = true;
   form.$valid = true;