diff --git a/src/ng/browser.js b/src/ng/browser.js
index a698302edce2..4a2d25fe08ab 100644
--- a/src/ng/browser.js
+++ b/src/ng/browser.js
@@ -92,6 +92,13 @@ function Browser(window, document, $log, $sniffer) {
   cacheState();
   lastHistoryState = cachedState;
 
+  self.forceReloadLocationUpdate = function(url) {
+    if (reloadLocation) {
+      reloadLocation = url;
+    }
+  };
+
+
   /**
    * @name $browser#url
    *
diff --git a/src/ng/location.js b/src/ng/location.js
index 18786721a7b2..c24b6a143e1c 100644
--- a/src/ng/location.js
+++ b/src/ng/location.js
@@ -894,7 +894,7 @@ function $LocationProvider() {
       $browser.url($location.absUrl(), true);
     }
 
-    var initializing = true;
+    var initializing = true, previousOldUrl = null, previousNewUrl = null;
 
     // update $location when $browser url changes
     $browser.onUrlChange(function(newUrl, newState) {
@@ -929,6 +929,15 @@ function $LocationProvider() {
     $rootScope.$watch(function $locationWatch() {
       var oldUrl = trimEmptyHash($browser.url());
       var newUrl = trimEmptyHash($location.absUrl());
+      if ($location.$$html5 && !$sniffer.history) {
+        if (previousOldUrl === oldUrl && previousNewUrl === newUrl) {
+          // break out of infinite $digest loops caused by default routes in hashbang mode
+          $browser.forceReloadLocationUpdate(newUrl);
+          previousOldUrl = previousNewUrl = null;
+          return;
+        }
+        previousOldUrl = oldUrl, previousNewUrl = newUrl;
+      }
       var oldState = $browser.state();
       var currentReplace = $location.$$replace;
       var urlOrStateChanged = oldUrl !== newUrl ||
diff --git a/test/ng/locationSpec.js b/test/ng/locationSpec.js
index bbeef29f88e6..02839edaa222 100644
--- a/test/ng/locationSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/locationSpec.js
@@ -996,6 +996,49 @@ describe('$location', function() {
         }
       );
     });
+
+
+    function mockUpBrowser(options) {
+      module(function($windowProvider, $browserProvider) {
+        $windowProvider.$get = function() {
+          var win = {};
+          angular.extend(win, window);
+          win.addEventListener = angular.noop;
+          win.removeEventListener = angular.noop;
+          win.location = {
+            href: options.initialUrl,
+            replace: function(val) {
+              win.location.href = val;
+            }
+          };
+          return win;
+        };
+        $browserProvider.$get = function($document, $window, $log, $sniffer) {
+          /* global Browser: false */
+          var b = new Browser($window, $document, $log, $sniffer);
+          b.baseHref = function() {
+            return options.baseHref;
+          };
+          return b;
+        };
+      });
+    }
+
+
+    it('should not get caught in infinite digest when replacing empty path with slash', function() {
+      initService({html5Mode:true,supportHistory:false});
+      mockUpBrowser({initialUrl:'http://server/base', baseHref:'/base/'});
+      inject(
+        function($browser, $location, $rootScope, $window) {
+          $rootScope.$on('$locationChangeSuccess', function() {
+            if ($location.path() !== '/') {
+                $location.path('/').replace();
+            }
+          });
+          $rootScope.$digest();
+        }
+      );
+    });
   });