diff --git a/src/sortable.js b/src/sortable.js
index a18f046..065179c 100644
--- a/src/sortable.js
+++ b/src/sortable.js
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ angular.module('ui.sortable', [])
               // the start and stop of repeat sections and sortable doesn't
               // respect their order (even if we cancel, the order of the
               // comments are still messed up).
-              if (hasSortingHelper(element, ui) && !ui.item.sortable.received) {
+              if (hasSortingHelper(element, ui) && !ui.item.sortable.received &&
+                  element.sortable( 'option', 'appendTo' ) === 'parent') {
                 // restore all the savedNodes except .ui-sortable-helper element
                 // (which is placed last). That way it will be garbage collected.
                 savedNodes = savedNodes.not(savedNodes.last());
diff --git a/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js b/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js
index dc2cdaf..21923d2 100644
--- a/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js
+++ b/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js
@@ -381,6 +381,30 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
       });
     });
 
+    it('should work when "helper: clone" and "appendTo" options are used together', function() {
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+        var element;
+        element = $compile('<ul ui-sortable="opts" ng-model="items"><li ng-repeat="item in items" id="s-{{$index}}" class="sortable-item">{{ item }}</li></ul>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$apply(function() {
+          $rootScope.opts = {
+            helper: 'clone',
+            appendTo: 'body'
+          };
+          $rootScope.items = ['One', 'Two', 'Three'];
+        });
+
+        host.append(element);
+
+        var li = element.find(':eq(1)');
+        var dy = (1 + EXTRA_DY_PERCENTAGE) * li.outerHeight();
+        li.simulate('drag', { dy: dy });
+        expect($rootScope.items).toEqual(['One', 'Three', 'Two']);
+        expect($rootScope.items).toEqual(listContent(element));
+
+        $(element).remove();
+      });
+    });
+
     it('should work when "helper: clone" and "placeholder" options are used together.', function() {
       inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
         var element;
@@ -648,4 +672,4 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
 
   });
 
-});
\ No newline at end of file
+});