diff --git a/src/ng/animate.js b/src/ng/animate.js
index 752ed0e15f6f..f268773ef2af 100644
--- a/src/ng/animate.js
+++ b/src/ng/animate.js
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ var $AnimateProvider = ['$provide', function($provide) {
        * @return {Promise} the animation callback promise
        */
       leave: function(element, options) {
+        applyStyles(element, options);
         element.remove();
         return asyncPromise();
       },
diff --git a/test/ng/animateSpec.js b/test/ng/animateSpec.js
index 0c848ad1becd..ed7d17d3b98a 100644
--- a/test/ng/animateSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/animateSpec.js
@@ -148,10 +148,11 @@ describe("$animate", function() {
       $rootScope.$digest();
       assertColor('blue');
 
-      $animate.leave(element, 'off', {
-        to: { color: 'blue' }
+      $animate.leave(element, {
+        to: { color: 'yellow' }
       });
-      assertColor('blue'); //nothing should happen the element is gone anyway
+      $rootScope.$digest();
+      assertColor('yellow');
 
       function assertColor(color) {
         expect(element[0].style.color).toBe(color);