diff --git a/ionic/components/nav/nav-item.js b/ionic/components/nav/nav-item.js
index 7f403002c8..ec4e9dcd7e 100644
--- a/ionic/components/nav/nav-item.js
+++ b/ionic/components/nav/nav-item.js
@@ -42,7 +42,13 @@ export class NavItem {
       this.domElement.classList.add('nav-item');
       this.domElement.setAttribute('data-nav-item-id', this.id);
 
-      let context = this.nav.contentElementRef
+      // TODO: talk to misko about correct way to set context
+      let context = {
+        boundElementIndex: 0,
+        parentView: {
+          _view: componentRef.location.parentView._view.componentChildViews[0]
+        }
+      };
 
       for (let i = 0; i < this.headers.length; i++) {
         this.createHeader(this.headers[i], context, injector);
diff --git a/ionic/components/nav/test/basic/pages/first-page.html b/ionic/components/nav/test/basic/pages/first-page.html
index 4c61b1363e..ac4a0a9d41 100644
--- a/ionic/components/nav/test/basic/pages/first-page.html
+++ b/ionic/components/nav/test/basic/pages/first-page.html
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 
 <div *ion-header>
 
-    <h1 class="toolbar-title">First Page</h1>
+    <h1 class="toolbar-title">First Page: Instance {{ val }}</h1>
 
 </div>
 
 
-<ion-content class="padding" style="background:blue">
+<ion-content class="padding" style="background:lightblue">
+
+  <p>First Page: Instance {{ val }}</p>
 
   <p>
     <button (click)="push()">Push (Go to 2nd)</button>
diff --git a/ionic/components/nav/test/basic/pages/first-page.js b/ionic/components/nav/test/basic/pages/first-page.js
index 3982e252fc..1574c21036 100644
--- a/ionic/components/nav/test/basic/pages/first-page.js
+++ b/ionic/components/nav/test/basic/pages/first-page.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export class FirstPage {
     nav: NavController
   ) {
     this.nav = nav;
+    this.val = Math.round(Math.random() * 8999) + 1000;
   }
 
   push() {