diff --git a/src/classes/footer.js b/src/classes/footer.js
index f4eea99dc4..8d5c79990a 100644
--- a/src/classes/footer.js
+++ b/src/classes/footer.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 var ngFooter = function ($scope, grid) {
     $scope.maxRows = function () {
-        var ret = Math.max(grid.config.totalServerItems, grid.data.length);
+        var ret = Math.max($scope.totalServerItems, grid.data.length);
         return ret;
     };
     
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
     $scope.pageForward = function() {
         var page = $scope.pagingOptions.currentPage;
-        if (grid.config.totalServerItems > 0) {
+        if ($scope.totalServerItems > 0) {
             $scope.pagingOptions.currentPage = Math.min(page + 1, $scope.maxPages());
         } else {
             $scope.pagingOptions.currentPage++;
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
     $scope.cantPageForward = function() {
         var curPage = $scope.pagingOptions.currentPage;
         var maxPages = $scope.maxPages();
-        if (grid.config.totalServerItems > 0) {
+        if ($scope.totalServerItems > 0) {
             return !(curPage < maxPages);
         } else {
             return grid.data.length < 1;
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 
     };
     $scope.cantPageToLast = function() {
-        if (grid.config.totalServerItems > 0) {
+        if ($scope.totalServerItems > 0) {
             return $scope.cantPageForward();
         } else {
             return true;
diff --git a/src/directives/ng-grid.js b/src/directives/ng-grid.js
index 9d4ac365b5..910ed4d2f8 100644
--- a/src/directives/ng-grid.js
+++ b/src/directives/ng-grid.js
@@ -28,7 +28,16 @@
                         }, true);
                     } else {
 						grid.buildColumns();
-					}
+                    }
+                    if (typeof options.totalServerItems == "string") {
+                        $scope.$parent.$watch(options.totalServerItems, function (a) {
+                            if (!a) {
+                                $scope.totalServerItems = 1;
+                                return;
+                            }
+                            $scope.totalServerItems = a; 
+                        });
+                    }
 					
                     // if it is a string we can watch for data changes. otherwise you won't be able to update the grid data
                     if (typeof options.data == "string") {