diff --git a/js/angular/controller/sideMenuController.js b/js/angular/controller/sideMenuController.js
index a9ba7f4c54..e2d6d5e191 100644
--- a/js/angular/controller/sideMenuController.js
+++ b/js/angular/controller/sideMenuController.js
@@ -50,5 +50,8 @@ function($scope, $attrs, $ionicSideMenuDelegate, $ionicPlatform) {
   var deregisterInstance = $ionicSideMenuDelegate._registerInstance(
     this, $attrs.delegateHandle
   );
-  $scope.$on('$destroy', deregisterInstance);
+  $scope.$on('$destroy', function() {
+    deregisterInstance();
+    deregisterBackButtonAction();
+  });
 }]);
diff --git a/test/unit/angular/controller/sideMenuController.unit.js b/test/unit/angular/controller/sideMenuController.unit.js
index d8ac4d31b2..faabaf71cd 100644
--- a/test/unit/angular/controller/sideMenuController.unit.js
+++ b/test/unit/angular/controller/sideMenuController.unit.js
@@ -34,4 +34,20 @@ describe('$ionicSideMenus controller', function() {
     ctrl.$scope.$apply();
     expect(deregSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
   }));
+
+  it('should deregister back button action on $destroy', inject(function($ionicPlatform) {
+    var openAmount = 0;
+    var deregSpy = jasmine.createSpy('deregister');
+    spyOn($ionicPlatform, 'registerBackButtonAction').andReturn(deregSpy);
+
+    var ctrl = setup();
+    spyOn(ctrl, 'getOpenAmount').andCallFake(function() { return openAmount; });
+
+    expect($ionicPlatform.registerBackButtonAction).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    openAmount = 1;
+    ctrl.$scope.$apply();
+    expect(deregSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    ctrl.$scope.$destroy();
+    expect(deregSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  }));
 });