diff --git a/src/ngRoute/directive/ngView.js b/src/ngRoute/directive/ngView.js
index 747a994e3d41..d88ca2b5619a 100644
--- a/src/ngRoute/directive/ngView.js
+++ b/src/ngRoute/directive/ngView.js
@@ -188,7 +188,6 @@ function ngViewFactory(   $route,   $anchorScroll,   $animate) {
     link: function(scope, $element, attr, ctrl, $transclude) {
         var currentScope,
             currentElement,
-            previousElement,
             autoScrollExp = attr.autoscroll,
             onloadExp = attr.onload || '';
 
@@ -196,19 +195,12 @@ function ngViewFactory(   $route,   $anchorScroll,   $animate) {
         update();
 
         function cleanupLastView() {
-          if(previousElement) {
-            previousElement.remove();
-            previousElement = null;
-          }
           if(currentScope) {
             currentScope.$destroy();
             currentScope = null;
           }
           if(currentElement) {
-            $animate.leave(currentElement).then(function() {
-              previousElement = null;
-            });
-            previousElement = currentElement;
+            $animate.leave(currentElement);
             currentElement = null;
           }
         }
diff --git a/test/ngRoute/directive/ngViewSpec.js b/test/ngRoute/directive/ngViewSpec.js
index 6113a2ca2ec8..f4f5e9b0bf39 100644
--- a/test/ngRoute/directive/ngViewSpec.js
+++ b/test/ngRoute/directive/ngViewSpec.js
@@ -844,48 +844,6 @@ describe('ngView animations', function() {
         }
       });
     });
-
-    it('should destroy the previous leave animation if a new one takes place', function() {
-      module(function($provide) {
-        $provide.decorator('$animate', function($delegate, $$q) {
-          var emptyPromise = $$q.defer().promise;
-          $delegate.leave = function() {
-            return emptyPromise;
-          };
-          return $delegate;
-        });
-      });
-      inject(function ($compile, $rootScope, $animate, $location) {
-        var item;
-        var $scope = $rootScope.$new();
-        element = $compile(html(
-          '<div>' +
-            '<div ng-view></div>' +
-          '</div>'
-        ))($scope);
-
-        $scope.$apply('value = true');
-
-        $location.path('/bar');
-        $rootScope.$digest();
-
-        var destroyed, inner = element.children(0);
-        inner.on('$destroy', function() {
-          destroyed = true;
-        });
-
-        $location.path('/foo');
-        $rootScope.$digest();
-
-        $location.path('/bar');
-        $rootScope.$digest();
-
-        $location.path('/bar');
-        $rootScope.$digest();
-
-        expect(destroyed).toBe(true);
-      });
-    });
   });