diff --git a/dist/js/ionic-angular.js b/dist/js/ionic-angular.js
index 160ba25c36..0da028ed13 100644
--- a/dist/js/ionic-angular.js
+++ b/dist/js/ionic-angular.js
@@ -1759,10 +1759,11 @@ angular.module('ionic.ui.sideMenu', ['ionic.service.gesture'])
         var defaultPrevented = false;
         var isDragging = false;
 
-        ionic.on('mousedown', function(e) {
+        var readDefaultPrevented = function(e) {
           // If the child element prevented the drag, don't drag
           defaultPrevented = e.defaultPrevented;
-        });
+        }
+        ionic.on('mousedown', readDefaultPrevented);
 
         // Listen for taps on the content to close the menu
         /*
@@ -1835,6 +1836,7 @@ angular.module('ionic.ui.sideMenu', ['ionic.service.gesture'])
           Gesture.off(dragUpGesture, 'dragup', dragFn);
           Gesture.off(dragDownGesture, 'dragdown', dragFn);
           Gesture.off(releaseGesture, 'release', dragReleaseFn);
+          ionic.off('mousedown', readDefaultPrevented);
         });
       };
     }
diff --git a/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicSideMenu.js b/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicSideMenu.js
index 800eb42dda..e5bba6494a 100644
--- a/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicSideMenu.js
+++ b/js/ext/angular/src/directive/ionicSideMenu.js
@@ -60,10 +60,11 @@ angular.module('ionic.ui.sideMenu', ['ionic.service.gesture'])
         var defaultPrevented = false;
         var isDragging = false;
 
-        ionic.on('mousedown', function(e) {
+        var readDefaultPrevented = function(e) {
           // If the child element prevented the drag, don't drag
           defaultPrevented = e.defaultPrevented;
-        });
+        }
+        ionic.on('mousedown', readDefaultPrevented);
 
         // Listen for taps on the content to close the menu
         /*
@@ -136,6 +137,7 @@ angular.module('ionic.ui.sideMenu', ['ionic.service.gesture'])
           Gesture.off(dragUpGesture, 'dragup', dragFn);
           Gesture.off(dragDownGesture, 'dragdown', dragFn);
           Gesture.off(releaseGesture, 'release', dragReleaseFn);
+          ionic.off('mousedown', readDefaultPrevented);
         });
       };
     }
diff --git a/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicSideMenu.unit.js b/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicSideMenu.unit.js
index 633f1c76a3..174efb4841 100644
--- a/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicSideMenu.unit.js
+++ b/js/ext/angular/test/directive/ionicSideMenu.unit.js
@@ -16,3 +16,67 @@ describe('Ionic Angular Side Menu', function() {
     expect(scope.sideMenuController).not.toBe(undefined);
   });
 });
+
+describe('Ionic Side Menu Content Directive', function () {
+  var $compile, element, scope, sideMenusCtrl;
+
+  beforeEach(module('ionic.ui.sideMenu'));
+
+  beforeEach(inject(function (_$compile_, _$rootScope_) {
+    $compile = _$compile_;
+    scope = _$rootScope_;
+
+    var sideMenus = $compile('<side-menus>')(scope).appendTo('body');
+
+    sideMenuCtrl = sideMenus.controller('sideMenus');
+    spyOn(sideMenuCtrl, '_handleDrag');
+
+    element = angular.element('<div side-menu-content>').appendTo(sideMenus);
+
+    $compile(element)(scope);
+    scope.$digest();
+  }));
+
+  it('Should handle drag', function () {
+    ionic.trigger('drag', {target: element[0]});
+
+    expect(sideMenuCtrl._handleDrag).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('Should not handle drag when prevented', function () {
+    var event = new CustomEvent('mousedown', {bubbles: true, cancelable: true});
+    event.preventDefault();
+    element[0].dispatchEvent(event);
+
+    ionic.trigger('drag', {target: element[0]});
+
+    expect(sideMenuCtrl._handleDrag).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('Ionic Side Menu Directive', function () {
+  var element, scope, sideMenuCtrl;
+
+  beforeEach(module('ionic.ui.sideMenu'));
+
+  beforeEach(inject(function (_$compile_, _$rootScope_) {
+    var $compile = _$compile_;
+    var $rootScope = _$rootScope_;
+
+    var sideMenus = $compile('<side-menus>')($rootScope);
+
+    sideMenuCtrl = sideMenus.controller('sideMenus');
+
+    element = angular.element('<side-menu side="left">').appendTo(sideMenus);
+    $compile(element)($rootScope);
+
+    scope = element.scope();
+    scope.$digest();
+  }));
+
+  it('Should set attributes on the controller', function () {
+    expect(sideMenuCtrl.left.isEnabled).not.toBe(undefined);
+    expect(sideMenuCtrl.left.pushDown).not.toBe(undefined);
+    expect(sideMenuCtrl.left.bringUp).not.toBe(undefined);
+  });
+});