diff --git a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
index 71ed2ec4d0d5..d80d7d735371 100644
--- a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
+++ b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
@@ -1077,7 +1077,7 @@ angular.module('ngAnimate', ['ng'])
          * @return {Promise} the animation callback promise
         */
         addClass: function(element, className, options) {
-          return this.setClass(element, className, [], options);
+          return this.setClass(element, className, '', options);
         },
 
         /**
@@ -1111,7 +1111,7 @@ angular.module('ngAnimate', ['ng'])
          * @return {Promise} the animation callback promise
         */
         removeClass: function(element, className, options) {
-          return this.setClass(element, [], className, options);
+          return this.setClass(element, '', className, options);
         },
 
         /**