diff --git a/src/components/dialog/dialog.js b/src/components/dialog/dialog.js
index d4562c46250..6949a49c1d1 100644
--- a/src/components/dialog/dialog.js
+++ b/src/components/dialog/dialog.js
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ function MdDialogProvider($$interimElementProvider) {
       return dialogPopIn(
         element,
         options.parent,
-        options.popInTarget.length && options.popInTarget
+        options.popInTarget && options.popInTarget.length && options.popInTarget
       )
       .then(function() {
         if (options.escapeToClose) {
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ function MdDialogProvider($$interimElementProvider) {
       return dialogPopOut(
         element,
         options.parent,
-        options.popInTarget.length && options.popInTarget
+        options.popInTarget && options.popInTarget.length && options.popInTarget
       ).then(function() {
         options.scope.$destroy();
         element.remove();