diff --git a/src/ng/directive/ngIf.js b/src/ng/directive/ngIf.js
index f75674039a1d..f6a37e8a25fc 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/ngIf.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/ngIf.js
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@ var ngIfDirective = ['$animate', function($animate) {
     $$tlb: true,
     link: function ($scope, $element, $attr, ctrl, $transclude) {
         var block, childScope, previousElements;
-        $scope.$watch($attr.ngIf, function ngIfWatchAction(value) {
+        $scope.$watch('!!(' + $attr.ngIf + ')', function ngIfWatchAction(value) {
 
-          if (toBoolean(value)) {
+          if (value) {
             if (!childScope) {
               $transclude(function (clone, newScope) {
                 childScope = newScope;
diff --git a/src/ng/directive/ngShowHide.js b/src/ng/directive/ngShowHide.js
index a04357eca07d..1a83be75105d 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/ngShowHide.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/ngShowHide.js
@@ -162,8 +162,8 @@
  */
 var ngShowDirective = ['$animate', function($animate) {
   return function(scope, element, attr) {
-    scope.$watch(attr.ngShow, function ngShowWatchAction(value){
-      $animate[toBoolean(value) ? 'removeClass' : 'addClass'](element, 'ng-hide');
+    scope.$watch('!!(' + attr.ngShow + ')', function ngShowWatchAction(value){
+      $animate[value ? 'removeClass' : 'addClass'](element, 'ng-hide');
     });
   };
 }];
@@ -318,8 +318,8 @@ var ngShowDirective = ['$animate', function($animate) {
  */
 var ngHideDirective = ['$animate', function($animate) {
   return function(scope, element, attr) {
-    scope.$watch(attr.ngHide, function ngHideWatchAction(value){
-      $animate[toBoolean(value) ? 'addClass' : 'removeClass'](element, 'ng-hide');
+    scope.$watch('!!(' + attr.ngHide + ')', function ngHideWatchAction(value){
+      $animate[value ? 'addClass' : 'removeClass'](element, 'ng-hide');
     });
   };
 }];
diff --git a/test/BinderSpec.js b/test/BinderSpec.js
index 57f529b0a520..87b03677cc0f 100644
--- a/test/BinderSpec.js
+++ b/test/BinderSpec.js
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ describe('Binder', function() {
 
     assertHidden(element);
 
-    $rootScope.hidden = 'false';
+    $rootScope.hidden = false;
     $rootScope.$apply();
 
     assertVisible(element);
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ describe('Binder', function() {
 
     assertVisible(element);
 
-    $rootScope.show = 'false';
+    $rootScope.show = false;
     $rootScope.$apply();
 
     assertHidden(element);
diff --git a/test/ng/directive/ngIfSpec.js b/test/ng/directive/ngIfSpec.js
index b18a4301570d..9a2e41a91b25 100755
--- a/test/ng/directive/ngIfSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/directive/ngIfSpec.js
@@ -136,6 +136,18 @@ describe('ngIf', function () {
     expect(element.text()).toBe('before;after;');
   });
 
+  it('should evaluate using javascript `truthy`/`falsy` logic', function () {
+    var cases = ['[]', 'f', [], [''], 'false', {}, function() {}, function(f) {}, 0, false, null, undefined, '', NaN];
+    element.append($compile(
+        '<div ng-if="value">Lucas</div>'
+    )($scope));
+    angular.forEach(cases, function(value) {
+      $scope.value = value;
+      $scope.$apply();
+      expect(element.text()).toBe(value ? 'Lucas' : '');
+    });
+  });
+
   it('should restore the element to its compiled state', function() {
     $scope.value = true;
     makeIf('value');
diff --git a/test/ng/directive/ngShowHideSpec.js b/test/ng/directive/ngShowHideSpec.js
index f1a1986af5f5..02199d6a33af 100644
--- a/test/ng/directive/ngShowHideSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/directive/ngShowHideSpec.js
@@ -38,6 +38,18 @@ describe('ngShow / ngHide', function() {
       $rootScope.$digest();
       expect(element).toBeShown();
     }));
+
+
+    it('should follow javascript `truthy`/`falsy` logic', inject(function($rootScope, $compile) {
+      var cases = ['[]', 'f', [], [''], 'false', {}, function() {}, function(f) {}, 0, false, null, undefined, '', NaN];
+      element = jqLite('<div ng-show="exp"></div>');
+      element = $compile(element)($rootScope);
+      angular.forEach(cases, function(value) {
+        $rootScope.exp = value;
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(element)[value ? 'toBeShown' : 'toBeHidden']();
+      });
+    }));
   });
 
   describe('ngHide', function() {
@@ -49,6 +61,18 @@ describe('ngShow / ngHide', function() {
       $rootScope.$digest();
       expect(element).toBeHidden();
     }));
+
+
+    it('should follow javascript `truthy`/`falsy` logic', inject(function($rootScope, $compile) {
+      var cases = ['[]', 'f', [], [''], 'false', {}, function() {}, function(f) {}, 0, false, null, undefined, '', NaN];
+      element = jqLite('<div ng-hide="exp"></div>');
+      element = $compile(element)($rootScope);
+      angular.forEach(cases, function(value) {
+        $rootScope.exp = value;
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(element)[value ? 'toBeHidden' : 'toBeShown']();
+      });
+    }));
   });
 });