diff --git a/js/angular/controller/slideBoxController.js b/js/angular/controller/slideBoxController.js
index 98043640bb..1319fa3781 100644
--- a/js/angular/controller/slideBoxController.js
+++ b/js/angular/controller/slideBoxController.js
@@ -178,8 +178,6 @@ function(scope, element, $log, $document, $$q, $timeout, $interval, $$ionicAttac
   // adds data to the queue for selection.
   // Index can be either a number or a getter (to be called when starting the slide)
   function select(newIndex, transitionDuration, isDrag) {
-    newIndex = parseInt(newIndex);
-    if (isNaN(newIndex) || newIndex < 0) return;
     slideQueue.unshift([
       angular.isFunction(newIndex) ? newIndex : function() { return newIndex; },
       transitionDuration || SLIDE_TRANSITION_DURATION,
@@ -233,8 +231,9 @@ function(scope, element, $log, $document, $$q, $timeout, $interval, $$ionicAttac
   }
 
   function slideTo(newIndex, duration, isDrag) {
+    newIndex = parseInt(newIndex);
     // Immediately finish invalid selection
-    if (!self.isValidIndex(newIndex)) return $$q.when();
+    if (isNaN(newIndex) || !self.isValidIndex(newIndex)) return $$q.when();
 
     var deferred = $$q.defer();
     var delta = getDelta(selectedIndex, newIndex);
diff --git a/test/unit/angular/directive/slideBox.unit.js b/test/unit/angular/directive/slideBox.unit.js
index 5e077d259b..9bb16b9d89 100644
--- a/test/unit/angular/directive/slideBox.unit.js
+++ b/test/unit/angular/directive/slideBox.unit.js
@@ -346,11 +346,13 @@ describe('ionSlideBox', function() {
 
         // Do nothing for -1
         $del.select(-1);
-        $timeout.verifyNoPendingTasks();
+        $timeout.flush();
+        expect($del.selected()).toBe(0);
 
         // Do nothing for NaN
         $del.select(NaN);
-        $timeout.verifyNoPendingTasks();
+        $timeout.flush();
+        expect($del.selected()).toBe(0);
 
         // parse to int
         $del.select('1');