diff --git a/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicTabBar.js b/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicTabBar.js
index 511540f289..ae4b93136f 100644
--- a/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicTabBar.js
+++ b/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicTabBar.js
@@ -192,8 +192,9 @@ angular.module('ionic.ui.tabs', ['ionic.service.view'])
         var el = $element[0];
         $scope.$watch(function() { return el.className; }, function(value) {
           var isTabsTop = value.indexOf('tabs-top') !== -1;
-          $scope.$hasTabs = !isTabsTop;
-          $scope.$hasTabsTop = isTabsTop;
+          var isHidden = value.indexOf('tabs-item-hide') !== -1;
+          $scope.$hasTabs = !isTabsTop && !isHidden;
+          $scope.$hasTabsTop = isTabsTop && !isHidden;
         });
         $scope.$on('$destroy', function() {
           $scope.$hasTabs = $scope.$hasTabsTop = null;
diff --git a/scss/_tabs.scss b/scss/_tabs.scss
index 0c31de8c3c..c0e20d9e06 100644
--- a/scss/_tabs.scss
+++ b/scss/_tabs.scss
@@ -123,6 +123,11 @@
   }
 }
 
+.tabs.tabs-item-hide,
+.tabs-item-hide > .tabs {
+  display: none;
+}
+
 .tabs-icon-top .tab-item,
 .tabs-icon-bottom .tab-item {
   font-size: $tabs-text-font-size-side-icon;