diff --git a/src/ng/directive/ngIf.js b/src/ng/directive/ngIf.js
index 000fba82c6ba..a31015b2c492 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/ngIf.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/ngIf.js
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ var ngIfDirective = ['$animate', function($animate) {
     restrict: 'A',
     $$tlb: true,
     link: function ($scope, $element, $attr, ctrl, $transclude) {
-        var block, childScope;
+        var block, childScope, previousElements;
         $scope.$watch($attr.ngIf, function ngIfWatchAction(value) {
 
           if (toBoolean(value)) {
@@ -102,14 +102,19 @@ var ngIfDirective = ['$animate', function($animate) {
               });
             }
           } else {
-
-            if (childScope) {
+            if(previousElements) {
+              previousElements.remove();
+              previousElements = null;
+            }
+            if(childScope) {
               childScope.$destroy();
               childScope = null;
             }
-
-            if (block) {
-              $animate.leave(getBlockElements(block.clone));
+            if(block) {
+              previousElements = getBlockElements(block.clone);
+              $animate.leave(previousElements, function() {
+                previousElements = null;
+              });
               block = null;
             }
           }
diff --git a/src/ng/directive/ngInclude.js b/src/ng/directive/ngInclude.js
index 29e3abce6505..272e199ab210 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/ngInclude.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/ngInclude.js
@@ -177,15 +177,23 @@ var ngIncludeDirective = ['$http', '$templateCache', '$anchorScroll', '$animate'
       return function(scope, $element, $attr, ctrl, $transclude) {
         var changeCounter = 0,
             currentScope,
+            previousElement,
             currentElement;
 
         var cleanupLastIncludeContent = function() {
-          if (currentScope) {
+          if(previousElement) {
+            previousElement.remove();
+            previousElement = null;
+          }
+          if(currentScope) {
             currentScope.$destroy();
             currentScope = null;
           }
           if(currentElement) {
-            $animate.leave(currentElement);
+            $animate.leave(currentElement, function() {
+              previousElement = null;
+            });
+            previousElement = currentElement;
             currentElement = null;
           }
         };
diff --git a/src/ng/directive/ngSwitch.js b/src/ng/directive/ngSwitch.js
index 925949789ff3..378c0b5024fc 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/ngSwitch.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/ngSwitch.js
@@ -138,12 +138,31 @@ var ngSwitchDirective = ['$animate', function($animate) {
       var watchExpr = attr.ngSwitch || attr.on,
           selectedTranscludes,
           selectedElements,
+          previousElements,
           selectedScopes = [];
 
       scope.$watch(watchExpr, function ngSwitchWatchAction(value) {
-        for (var i= 0, ii=selectedScopes.length; i<ii; i++) {
-          selectedScopes[i].$destroy();
-          $animate.leave(selectedElements[i]);
+        var i, ii = selectedScopes.length;
+        if(ii > 0) {
+          if(previousElements) {
+            for (i = 0; i < ii; i++) {
+              previousElements[i].remove();
+            }
+            previousElements = null;
+          }
+
+          previousElements = [];
+          for (i= 0; i<ii; i++) {
+            var selected = selectedElements[i];
+            selectedScopes[i].$destroy();
+            previousElements[i] = selected;
+            $animate.leave(selected, function() {
+              previousElements.splice(i, 1);
+              if(previousElements.length === 0) {
+                previousElements = null;
+              }
+            });
+          }
         }
 
         selectedElements = [];
diff --git a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
index c09e714e67bc..6b1eedfc393a 100644
--- a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
+++ b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
@@ -764,6 +764,27 @@ angular.module('ngAnimate', ['ng'])
           return;
         }
 
+        if(animationEvent == 'leave') {
+          //there's no need to ever remove the listener since the element
+          //will be removed (destroyed) after the leave animation ends or
+          //is cancelled midway
+          element.one('$destroy', function(e) {
+            var element = angular.element(this);
+            var state = element.data(NG_ANIMATE_STATE) || {};
+            var activeLeaveAnimation = state.active['ng-leave'];
+            if(activeLeaveAnimation) {
+              var animations = activeLeaveAnimation.animations;
+
+              //if the before animation is completed then the element will be
+              //removed shortly after so there is no need to cancel the animation
+              if(!animations[0].beforeComplete) {
+                cancelAnimations(animations);
+                cleanup(element, 'ng-leave');
+              }
+            }
+          });
+        }
+
         //the ng-animate class does nothing, but it's here to allow for
         //parent animations to find and cancel child animations when needed
         element.addClass(NG_ANIMATE_CLASS_NAME);
diff --git a/src/ngRoute/directive/ngView.js b/src/ngRoute/directive/ngView.js
index 3fa851a76074..448e375cd40a 100644
--- a/src/ngRoute/directive/ngView.js
+++ b/src/ngRoute/directive/ngView.js
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ function ngViewFactory(   $route,   $anchorScroll,   $animate) {
     link: function(scope, $element, attr, ctrl, $transclude) {
         var currentScope,
             currentElement,
+            previousElement,
             autoScrollExp = attr.autoscroll,
             onloadExp = attr.onload || '';
 
@@ -196,12 +197,19 @@ function ngViewFactory(   $route,   $anchorScroll,   $animate) {
         update();
 
         function cleanupLastView() {
-          if (currentScope) {
+          if(previousElement) {
+            previousElement.remove();
+            previousElement = null;
+          }
+          if(currentScope) {
             currentScope.$destroy();
             currentScope = null;
           }
           if(currentElement) {
-            $animate.leave(currentElement);
+            $animate.leave(currentElement, function() {
+              previousElement = null;
+            });
+            previousElement = currentElement;
             currentElement = null;
           }
         }
diff --git a/test/ng/directive/ngIfSpec.js b/test/ng/directive/ngIfSpec.js
index d40e6812019a..771e264a9a73 100755
--- a/test/ng/directive/ngIfSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/directive/ngIfSpec.js
@@ -277,4 +277,42 @@ describe('ngIf animations', function () {
       expect(element.children().length).toBe(0);
   }));
 
+  it('should destroy the previous leave animation if a new one takes place', function() {
+    module(function($provide) {
+      $provide.value('$animate', {
+        enabled : function() { return true; },
+        leave : function() {
+          //DOM operation left blank
+        },
+        enter : function(element, parent) {
+          parent.append(element);
+        }
+      });
+    });
+    inject(function ($compile, $rootScope, $animate) {
+      var item;
+      var $scope = $rootScope.$new();
+      element = $compile(html(
+        '<div>' +
+          '<div ng-if="value">Yo</div>' +
+        '</div>'
+      ))($scope);
+
+      $scope.$apply('value = true');
+
+      var destroyed, inner = element.children(0);
+      inner.on('$destroy', function() {
+        destroyed = true;
+      });
+
+      $scope.$apply('value = false');
+
+      $scope.$apply('value = true');
+
+      $scope.$apply('value = false');
+
+      expect(destroyed).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
 });
diff --git a/test/ng/directive/ngIncludeSpec.js b/test/ng/directive/ngIncludeSpec.js
index 9f37d1fe606c..510fa38a230d 100644
--- a/test/ng/directive/ngIncludeSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/directive/ngIncludeSpec.js
@@ -663,4 +663,44 @@ describe('ngInclude animations', function() {
       expect(itemA).not.toEqual(itemB);
   }));
 
+  it('should destroy the previous leave animation if a new one takes place', function() {
+    module(function($provide) {
+      $provide.value('$animate', {
+        enabled : function() { return true; },
+        leave : function() {
+          //DOM operation left blank
+        },
+        enter : function(element, parent, after) {
+          angular.element(after).after(element);
+        }
+      });
+    });
+    inject(function ($compile, $rootScope, $animate, $templateCache) {
+      var item;
+      var $scope = $rootScope.$new();
+      element = $compile(html(
+        '<div>' +
+          '<div ng-include="inc">Yo</div>' +
+        '</div>'
+      ))($scope);
+
+      $templateCache.put('one', [200, '<div>one</div>', {}]);
+      $templateCache.put('two', [200, '<div>two</div>', {}]);
+
+      $scope.$apply('inc = "one"');
+
+      var destroyed, inner = element.children(0);
+      inner.on('$destroy', function() {
+        destroyed = true;
+      });
+
+      $scope.$apply('inc = "two"');
+
+      $scope.$apply('inc = "one"');
+
+      $scope.$apply('inc = "two"');
+
+      expect(destroyed).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/ng/directive/ngSwitchSpec.js b/test/ng/directive/ngSwitchSpec.js
index e039c4d52932..2b771a0c951c 100644
--- a/test/ng/directive/ngSwitchSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/directive/ngSwitchSpec.js
@@ -293,4 +293,42 @@ describe('ngSwitch animations', function() {
       expect(item.element.text()).toBe('three');
   }));
 
+  it('should destroy the previous leave animation if a new one takes place', function() {
+    module(function($provide) {
+      $provide.value('$animate', {
+        enabled : function() { return true; },
+        leave : function() {
+          //DOM operation left blank
+        },
+        enter : function(element, parent, after) {
+          angular.element(after).after(element);
+        }
+      });
+    });
+    inject(function ($compile, $rootScope, $animate, $templateCache) {
+      var item;
+      var $scope = $rootScope.$new();
+      element = $compile(html(
+        '<div ng-switch="inc">' +
+          '<div ng-switch-when="one">one</div>' +
+          '<div ng-switch-when="two">two</div>' +
+        '</div>'
+      ))($scope);
+
+      $scope.$apply('inc = "one"');
+
+      var destroyed, inner = element.children(0);
+      inner.on('$destroy', function() {
+        destroyed = true;
+      });
+
+      $scope.$apply('inc = "two"');
+
+      $scope.$apply('inc = "one"');
+
+      $scope.$apply('inc = "two"');
+
+      expect(destroyed).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js b/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
index 55ec4ae8a22f..a30b5fe99beb 100644
--- a/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
+++ b/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
@@ -3335,5 +3335,40 @@ describe("ngAnimate", function() {
         expect(cancelReflowCallback).toHaveBeenCalled();
       });
     });
+
+    it('should immediately close off a leave animation if the element is removed from the DOM', function() {
+      var stat;
+      module(function($animateProvider) {
+        $animateProvider.register('.going', function() {
+          return {
+            leave : function() {
+              //left blank so it hangs
+              stat = 'leaving';
+              return function(cancelled) {
+                stat = cancelled && 'gone';
+              };
+            }
+          };
+        });
+      });
+      inject(function($sniffer, $compile, $rootScope, $rootElement, $animate, $timeout) {
+
+        $animate.enabled(true);
+
+        var element = $compile('<div id="parentGuy"></div>')($rootScope);
+        var child = $compile('<div class="going"></div>')($rootScope);
+        $rootElement.append(element);
+        element.append(child);
+
+        $animate.leave(child);
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+
+        expect(stat).toBe('leaving');
+
+        child.remove();
+
+        expect(stat).toBe('gone');
+      });
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/ngRoute/directive/ngViewSpec.js b/test/ngRoute/directive/ngViewSpec.js
index 259940c646dd..11a13e408cd4 100644
--- a/test/ngRoute/directive/ngViewSpec.js
+++ b/test/ngRoute/directive/ngViewSpec.js
@@ -833,6 +833,50 @@ describe('ngView animations', function() {
           }
         });
       });
+
+      it('should destroy the previous leave animation if a new one takes place', function() {
+        module(function($provide) {
+          $provide.value('$animate', {
+            enabled : function() { return true; },
+            leave : function() {
+              //DOM operation left blank
+            },
+            enter : function(element, parent, after) {
+              angular.element(after).after(element);
+            }
+          });
+        });
+        inject(function ($compile, $rootScope, $animate, $location) {
+          var item;
+          var $scope = $rootScope.$new();
+          element = $compile(html(
+            '<div>' +
+              '<div ng-view></div>' +
+            '</div>'
+          ))($scope);
+
+          $scope.$apply('value = true');
+
+          $location.path('/bar');
+          $rootScope.$digest();
+
+          var destroyed, inner = element.children(0);
+          inner.on('$destroy', function() {
+            destroyed = true;
+          });
+
+          $location.path('/foo');
+          $rootScope.$digest();
+
+          $location.path('/bar');
+          $rootScope.$digest();
+
+          $location.path('/bar');
+          $rootScope.$digest();
+
+          expect(destroyed).toBe(true);
+        });
+      });
     });