diff --git a/ionic/components/nav/nav-controller.ts b/ionic/components/nav/nav-controller.ts
index 91edc2d10e..8e23c4c7b9 100644
--- a/ionic/components/nav/nav-controller.ts
+++ b/ionic/components/nav/nav-controller.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {ComponentRef, Compiler, ElementRef, Injector, bind, NgZone, DynamicComponentLoader, AppViewManager} from 'angular2/angular2';
+import {Compiler, ElementRef, Injector, bind, NgZone, DynamicComponentLoader, AppViewManager} from 'angular2/angular2';
 
 import {Ion} from '../ion';
 import {makeComponent} from '../../config/decorators';
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ export class NavController extends Ion {
    * @param opts extra animation options
    */
   popToRoot(opts = {}) {
-    this.popTo(this._views[0]);
+    this._popTo(this.first());
   }
 
   /**
@@ -542,7 +542,14 @@ export class NavController extends Ion {
         viewContainer.remove(index);
       }
     };
-    return new ComponentRef(newLocation, component, type, null, dispose);
+
+    // TODO: make-shift ComponentRef_, this is pretty much going to
+    // break in future versions of ng2, keep an eye on it
+    return {
+      location: newLocation,
+      instance: component,
+      dispose: dispose
+    };
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/ionic/components/tabs/tabs.ts b/ionic/components/tabs/tabs.ts
index 1d51a8318d..11c079f094 100644
--- a/ionic/components/tabs/tabs.ts
+++ b/ionic/components/tabs/tabs.ts
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ export class Tabs extends NavController {
    * TODO
    */
   addTab(tab) {
-    this.add(tab.viewCtrl);
+    this._add(tab.viewCtrl);
 
     // return true/false if it's the initial tab
     return (this.length() === 1);
diff --git a/ionic/config/decorators.ts b/ionic/config/decorators.ts
index f53652a132..8bf56c3e38 100644
--- a/ionic/config/decorators.ts
+++ b/ionic/config/decorators.ts
@@ -125,17 +125,19 @@ export function App(args={}) {
     // get current annotations
     let annotations = Reflect.getMetadata('annotations', cls) || [];
 
-    // create @Component
+    // default to select <ion-app>
     args.selector = args.selector || 'ion-app';
-    annotations.push(new Component(args));
 
-    // create @View
-    // if no template was provided, default so it has a root ion-nav
+    // auto add Ionic directives
+    args.directives = args.directives ? args.directives.concat(IONIC_DIRECTIVES) : IONIC_DIRECTIVES;
+
+    // if no template was provided, default so it has a root <ion-nav>
     if (!args.templateUrl && !args.template) {
       args.template = '<ion-nav></ion-nav>';
     }
 
-    annotations.push(new PageImpl(args));
+    // create @Component
+    annotations.push(new Component(args));
 
     // redefine with added annotations
     Reflect.defineMetadata('annotations', annotations, cls);
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d4b4796d9a..d40f6f4e99 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     "link": "npm install && gulp src && npm link"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "angular2": "2.0.0-alpha.39",
+    "angular2": "2.0.0-alpha.40",
     "@reactivex/rxjs": "0.0.0-prealpha.3",
     "reflect-metadata": "0.1.1",
     "zone.js": "0.5.8"