diff --git a/src/ng/compile.js b/src/ng/compile.js
index 59a701452899..d0b6e749ad0e 100644
--- a/src/ng/compile.js
+++ b/src/ng/compile.js
@@ -819,7 +819,9 @@ function $CompileProvider($provide) {
           originalWidgetNode = tElement[0],
           asyncWidgetDirective = directives.shift(),
           // The fact that we have to copy and patch the directive seems wrong!
-          syncWidgetDirective = extend({}, asyncWidgetDirective, {templateUrl:null, transclude:null}),
+          syncWidgetDirective = extend({}, asyncWidgetDirective, {
+            controller: null, templateUrl: null, transclude: null
+          }),
           html = tElement.html();
 
       tElement.html('');
diff --git a/test/ng/compileSpec.js b/test/ng/compileSpec.js
index 1aef24fe8677..54837bf72a8c 100644
--- a/test/ng/compileSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/compileSpec.js
@@ -1692,7 +1692,45 @@ describe('$compile', function() {
         element = $compile('<div c1 c2><div dep></div></div>')($rootScope);
         expect(log).toEqual('dep:c1-c2');
       });
+    });
+
 
+    it('should instantiate the controller just once when template/templateUrl', function() {
+      var syncCtrlSpy = jasmine.createSpy('sync controller'),
+          asyncCtrlSpy = jasmine.createSpy('async controller');
+
+      module(function($compileProvider) {
+        $compileProvider.directive('myDirectiveSync', valueFn({
+          template: '<div>Hello!</div>',
+          controller: syncCtrlSpy
+        }));
+        $compileProvider.directive('myDirectiveAsync', valueFn({
+          templateUrl: 'myDirectiveAsync.html',
+          controller: asyncCtrlSpy,
+          compile: function() {
+            return function() {
+            }
+          }
+        }));
+      });
+
+      inject(function($templateCache, $compile, $rootScope) {
+        expect(syncCtrlSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        expect(asyncCtrlSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+        $templateCache.put('myDirectiveAsync.html', '<div>Hello!</div>');
+        element = $compile('<div>'+
+                   '<span xmy-directive-sync></span>' +
+                   '<span my-directive-async></span>' +
+                 '</div>')($rootScope);
+        expect(syncCtrlSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        expect(asyncCtrlSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+        $rootScope.$apply();
+
+        //expect(syncCtrlSpy).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+        expect(asyncCtrlSpy).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+      });
     });
   });