diff --git a/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicContent.js b/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicContent.js
index 50aa10cb76..e9799fc4b4 100644
--- a/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicContent.js
+++ b/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicContent.js
@@ -220,9 +220,9 @@ function($timeout, $controller, $ionicBind) {
     '<div class="scroll-refresher">' +
       '<div class="ionic-refresher-content">' +
         '<i class="icon {{pullingIcon}} icon-pulling"></i>' +
-        '<div class="text-pulling" ng-bind-html="pullingText"></div>' +
+        '<div class="text-pulling" ng-bind-html="pullingText || \'&nbsp;\'"></div>' +
         '<i class="icon {{refreshingIcon}} icon-refreshing"></i>' +
-        '<div class="text-refreshing" ng-bind-html="refreshingText"></div>' +
+        '<div class="text-refreshing" ng-bind-html="refreshingText || \'&nbsp;\'"></div>' +
       '</div>' +
     '</div>',
     compile: function($element, $attrs) {
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ function($timeout, $controller, $ionicBind) {
       //Check bounds on start, after scrollView is fully rendered
       setTimeout(checkBounds);
       scrollCtrl.$element.on('scroll', checkBounds);
-      
+
       function checkInfiniteBounds() {
         if (infiniteScrollCtrl.isLoading) return;
 
diff --git a/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicRefresher.unit.js b/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicRefresher.unit.js
index 9c14abd07c..32f6260d80 100644
--- a/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicRefresher.unit.js
+++ b/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicRefresher.unit.js
@@ -86,9 +86,13 @@ describe('ionRefresher directive', function() {
     expect(el[0].querySelector('.icon.icon-refreshing.monkey-icon')).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
-  it('should have no text by default', function() {
+  it('should have &nbsp; pulling-text by default', function() {
     var el = setup();
-    expect(el.text().trim()).toBe('');
+    expect(el[0].querySelector('.text-pulling').innerHTML).toBe('&nbsp;');
+  });
+  it('should have &nbsp; refreshing-text by default', function() {
+    var el = setup();
+    expect(el[0].querySelector('.text-refreshing').innerHTML).toBe('&nbsp;');
   });
   it('should allow pullingText', function() {
     var el = setup('pulling-text="{{2+2}} <b>some</b> text"');