diff --git a/js/angular/directive/view.js b/js/angular/directive/view.js
index bf39433556..1b49f837b3 100644
--- a/js/angular/directive/view.js
+++ b/js/angular/directive/view.js
@@ -59,19 +59,21 @@ IonicModule
 
         }
 
-        if (angular.isDefined($attr.hideBackButton)) {
-          $scope.$watch($attr.hideBackButton, function(value) {
-            // Should we hide a back button when this tab is shown
-            navBarCtrl.showBackButton(!value);
-          });
-        }
+        var hideBackAttr = angular.isDefined($attr.hideBackButton) ?
+          $attr.hideBackButton :
+          'false';
+        $scope.$watch(hideBackAttr, function(value) {
+          // Should we hide a back button when this tab is shown
+          navBarCtrl.showBackButton(!value);
+        });
 
-        if (angular.isDefined($attr.hideNavBar)) {
-          $scope.$watch($attr.hideNavBar, function(value) {
-            // Should the nav bar be hidden for this view or not?
-            navBarCtrl.showBar(!value);
-          });
-        }
+        var hideNavAttr = angular.isDefined($attr.hideNavBar) ?
+          $attr.hideNavBar :
+          'false';
+        $scope.$watch(hideNavAttr, function(value) {
+          // Should the nav bar be hidden for this view or not?
+          navBarCtrl.showBar(!value);
+        });
 
       };
     }
diff --git a/test/unit/angular/directive/view.unit.js b/test/unit/angular/directive/view.unit.js
index 69acf38d8a..c77235f8c5 100644
--- a/test/unit/angular/directive/view.unit.js
+++ b/test/unit/angular/directive/view.unit.js
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ describe('ionView directive', function() {
     expect(el.controller('ionNavBar').showBackButton).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
   });
 
+  it('should show back button by default', function() {
+    var el = setup();
+    expect(el.controller('ionNavBar').showBackButton).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
+  });
+
   it('should showBar depending on what is given', function() {
     var el = setup('hide-nav-bar="shouldHide"');
     expect(el.controller('ionNavBar').showBar).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
@@ -66,6 +71,11 @@ describe('ionView directive', function() {
     expect(el.controller('ionNavBar').showBar).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
   });
 
+  it('should showBar by default', function() {
+    var el = setup();
+    expect(el.controller('ionNavBar').showBar).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
+  });
+
   it('should setTitle on change, but not with initial value', function() {
     var el = setup('title="{{something}}-1"');
     //Should not setTitle with initial value