diff --git a/src/ng/compile.js b/src/ng/compile.js
index 02cd0bdbaa94..4baeff6ca75d 100644
--- a/src/ng/compile.js
+++ b/src/ng/compile.js
@@ -1029,17 +1029,11 @@ function $CompileProvider($provide, $$sanitizeUriProvider) {
     }
     if (isObject(bindings.bindToController)) {
       var controller = directive.controller;
-      var controllerAs = directive.controllerAs;
       if (!controller) {
         // There is no controller, there may or may not be a controllerAs property
         throw $compileMinErr('noctrl',
               'Cannot bind to controller without directive \'{0}\'s controller.',
               directiveName);
-      } else if (!identifierForController(controller, controllerAs)) {
-        // There is a controller, but no identifier or controllerAs property
-        throw $compileMinErr('noident',
-              'Cannot bind to controller without identifier for directive \'{0}\'.',
-              directiveName);
       }
     }
     return bindings;
diff --git a/test/ng/compileSpec.js b/test/ng/compileSpec.js
index e4a8ddf4e960..9c86cf021a23 100755
--- a/test/ng/compileSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/compileSpec.js
@@ -5833,10 +5833,397 @@ describe('$compile', function() {
               'foo': 'bar',
               'baz': 'biz'
             };
-            element = $compile('<div foo-dir dir-data="remoteData" ' +
-                                    'dir-str="Hello, {{whom}}!" ' +
-                                    'dir-fn="fn()"></div>')($rootScope);
-            expect(controllerCalled).toBe(true);
+            expect(this.str).toBe('Hello, world!');
+            expect(this.fn()).toBe('called!');
+            controllerCalled = true;
+          },
+          controllerAs: 'test',
+          bindToController: true
+        }));
+      });
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope, $templateCache) {
+        $templateCache.put('test.html', '<p>isolate</p>');
+        $rootScope.fn = valueFn('called!');
+        $rootScope.whom = 'world';
+        $rootScope.remoteData = {
+          'foo': 'bar',
+          'baz': 'biz'
+        };
+        element = $compile('<div foo-dir dir-data="remoteData" ' +
+                                 'dir-str="Hello, {{whom}}!" ' +
+                                 'dir-fn="fn()"></div>')($rootScope);
+		element = $compile('<div foo-dir dir-data="remoteData" ' +
+                                 'dir-str="Hello, {{whom}}!" ' +
+                                 'dir-fn="fn()"></div>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(controllerCalled).toBe(true);
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should throw noctrl when missing controller', function() {
+      module(function($compileProvider) {
+        $compileProvider.directive('noCtrl', valueFn({
+          templateUrl: 'test.html',
+          scope: {
+            'data': '=dirData',
+            'oneway': '<dirData',
+            'str': '@dirStr',
+            'fn': '&dirFn'
+          },
+          controllerAs: 'test',
+          bindToController: true
+        }));
+      });
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+        expect(function() {
+          $compile('<div no-ctrl>')($rootScope);
+        }).toThrowMinErr('$compile', 'noctrl',
+            'Cannot bind to controller without directive \'noCtrl\'s controller.');
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should not throw noident when missing controllerAs directive property', function() {
+      module(function($compileProvider) {
+        $compileProvider.directive('noIdent', valueFn({
+          templateUrl: 'test.html',
+          scope: {
+            'data': '=dirData',
+            'oneway': '<dirData',
+            'str': '@dirStr',
+            'fn': '&dirFn'
+          },
+          controller: function() {},
+          bindToController: true
+        }));
+      });
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+        expect(function() {
+          $compile('<div no-ident>')($rootScope);
+        }).not.toThrow();
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should not throw noident when missing controller identifier', function() {
+      module(function($compileProvider, $controllerProvider) {
+        $controllerProvider.register('myCtrl', function() {});
+        $compileProvider.directive('noIdent', valueFn({
+          templateUrl: 'test.html',
+          scope: {
+            'data': '=dirData',
+            'oneway': '<dirData',
+            'str': '@dirStr',
+            'fn': '&dirFn'
+          },
+          controller: 'myCtrl',
+          bindToController: true
+        }));
+      });
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+        expect(function() {
+          $compile('<div no-ident>')($rootScope);
+        }).not.toThrow();
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should bind to controller via object notation (isolate scope)', function() {
+      var controllerCalled = false;
+      module(function($compileProvider, $controllerProvider) {
+        $controllerProvider.register('myCtrl', function() {
+          expect(this.data).toEqualData({
+            'foo': 'bar',
+            'baz': 'biz'
+          });
+          expect(this.oneway).toEqualData({
+            'foo': 'bar',
+            'baz': 'biz'
+          });
+          expect(this.str).toBe('Hello, world!');
+          expect(this.fn()).toBe('called!');
+          controllerCalled = true;
+        });
+        $compileProvider.directive('fooDir', valueFn({
+          templateUrl: 'test.html',
+          bindToController: {
+            'data': '=dirData',
+            'oneway': '<dirData',
+            'str': '@dirStr',
+            'fn': '&dirFn'
+          },
+          scope: {},
+          controller: 'myCtrl as myCtrl'
+        }));
+      });
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope, $templateCache) {
+        $templateCache.put('test.html', '<p>isolate</p>');
+        $rootScope.fn = valueFn('called!');
+        $rootScope.whom = 'world';
+        $rootScope.remoteData = {
+          'foo': 'bar',
+          'baz': 'biz'
+        };
+        element = $compile('<div foo-dir dir-data="remoteData" ' +
+                           'dir-str="Hello, {{whom}}!" ' +
+                           'dir-fn="fn()"></div>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(controllerCalled).toBe(true);
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should bind to controller via object notation (new scope)', function() {
+      var controllerCalled = false;
+      module(function($compileProvider, $controllerProvider) {
+        $controllerProvider.register('myCtrl', function() {
+          expect(this.data).toEqualData({
+            'foo': 'bar',
+            'baz': 'biz'
+          });
+          expect(this.data).toEqualData({
+            'foo': 'bar',
+            'baz': 'biz'
+          });
+          expect(this.str).toBe('Hello, world!');
+          expect(this.fn()).toBe('called!');
+          controllerCalled = true;
+        });
+        $compileProvider.directive('fooDir', valueFn({
+          templateUrl: 'test.html',
+          bindToController: {
+            'data': '=dirData',
+            'oneway': '<dirData',
+            'str': '@dirStr',
+            'fn': '&dirFn'
+          },
+          scope: true,
+          controller: 'myCtrl as myCtrl'
+        }));
+      });
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope, $templateCache) {
+        $templateCache.put('test.html', '<p>isolate</p>');
+        $rootScope.fn = valueFn('called!');
+        $rootScope.whom = 'world';
+        $rootScope.remoteData = {
+          'foo': 'bar',
+          'baz': 'biz'
+        };
+        element = $compile('<div foo-dir dir-data="remoteData" ' +
+                           'dir-str="Hello, {{whom}}!" ' +
+                           'dir-fn="fn()"></div>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(controllerCalled).toBe(true);
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should bind to multiple directives controllers via object notation (no scope)', function() {
+      var controller1Called = false;
+      var controller2Called = false;
+      module(function($compileProvider, $controllerProvider) {
+        $compileProvider.directive('foo', valueFn({
+          bindToController: {
+            'data': '=fooData',
+            'oneway': '<fooData',
+            'str': '@fooStr',
+            'fn': '&fooFn'
+          },
+          controllerAs: 'fooCtrl',
+          controller: function() {
+            expect(this.data).toEqualData({'foo': 'bar', 'baz': 'biz'});
+            expect(this.oneway).toEqualData({'foo': 'bar', 'baz': 'biz'});
+            expect(this.str).toBe('Hello, world!');
+            expect(this.fn()).toBe('called!');
+            controller1Called = true;
+          }
+        }));
+        $compileProvider.directive('bar', valueFn({
+          bindToController: {
+            'data': '=barData',
+            'oneway': '<barData',
+            'str': '@barStr',
+            'fn': '&barFn'
+          },
+          controllerAs: 'barCtrl',
+          controller: function() {
+            expect(this.data).toEqualData({'foo2': 'bar2', 'baz2': 'biz2'});
+            expect(this.oneway).toEqualData({'foo2': 'bar2', 'baz2': 'biz2'});
+            expect(this.str).toBe('Hello, second world!');
+            expect(this.fn()).toBe('second called!');
+            controller2Called = true;
+          }
+        }));
+      });
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+        $rootScope.fn = valueFn('called!');
+        $rootScope.string = 'world';
+        $rootScope.data = {'foo': 'bar','baz': 'biz'};
+        $rootScope.fn2 = valueFn('second called!');
+        $rootScope.string2 = 'second world';
+        $rootScope.data2 = {'foo2': 'bar2', 'baz2': 'biz2'};
+        element = $compile(
+          '<div ' +
+            'foo ' +
+            'foo-data="data" ' +
+            'foo-str="Hello, {{string}}!" ' +
+            'foo-fn="fn()" ' +
+            'bar ' +
+            'bar-data="data2" ' +
+            'bar-str="Hello, {{string2}}!" ' +
+            'bar-fn="fn2()" > ' +
+          '</div>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(controller1Called).toBe(true);
+        expect(controller2Called).toBe(true);
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should bind to multiple directives controllers via object notation (new iso scope)', function() {
+      var controller1Called = false;
+      var controller2Called = false;
+      module(function($compileProvider, $controllerProvider) {
+        $compileProvider.directive('foo', valueFn({
+          bindToController: {
+            'data': '=fooData',
+            'oneway': '<fooData',
+            'str': '@fooStr',
+            'fn': '&fooFn'
+          },
+          scope: {},
+          controllerAs: 'fooCtrl',
+          controller: function() {
+            expect(this.data).toEqualData({'foo': 'bar', 'baz': 'biz'});
+            expect(this.oneway).toEqualData({'foo': 'bar', 'baz': 'biz'});
+            expect(this.str).toBe('Hello, world!');
+            expect(this.fn()).toBe('called!');
+            controller1Called = true;
+          }
+        }));
+        $compileProvider.directive('bar', valueFn({
+          bindToController: {
+            'data': '=barData',
+            'oneway': '<barData',
+            'str': '@barStr',
+            'fn': '&barFn'
+          },
+          controllerAs: 'barCtrl',
+          controller: function() {
+            expect(this.data).toEqualData({'foo2': 'bar2', 'baz2': 'biz2'});
+            expect(this.oneway).toEqualData({'foo2': 'bar2', 'baz2': 'biz2'});
+            expect(this.str).toBe('Hello, second world!');
+            expect(this.fn()).toBe('second called!');
+            controller2Called = true;
+          }
+        }));
+      });
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+        $rootScope.fn = valueFn('called!');
+        $rootScope.string = 'world';
+        $rootScope.data = {'foo': 'bar','baz': 'biz'};
+        $rootScope.fn2 = valueFn('second called!');
+        $rootScope.string2 = 'second world';
+        $rootScope.data2 = {'foo2': 'bar2', 'baz2': 'biz2'};
+        element = $compile(
+          '<div ' +
+            'foo ' +
+            'foo-data="data" ' +
+            'foo-str="Hello, {{string}}!" ' +
+            'foo-fn="fn()" ' +
+            'bar ' +
+            'bar-data="data2" ' +
+            'bar-str="Hello, {{string2}}!" ' +
+            'bar-fn="fn2()" > ' +
+          '</div>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(controller1Called).toBe(true);
+        expect(controller2Called).toBe(true);
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should bind to multiple directives controllers via object notation (new scope)', function() {
+      var controller1Called = false;
+      var controller2Called = false;
+      module(function($compileProvider, $controllerProvider) {
+        $compileProvider.directive('foo', valueFn({
+          bindToController: {
+            'data': '=fooData',
+            'oneway': '<fooData',
+            'str': '@fooStr',
+            'fn': '&fooFn'
+          },
+          scope: true,
+          controllerAs: 'fooCtrl',
+          controller: function() {
+            expect(this.data).toEqualData({'foo': 'bar', 'baz': 'biz'});
+            expect(this.oneway).toEqualData({'foo': 'bar', 'baz': 'biz'});
+            expect(this.str).toBe('Hello, world!');
+            expect(this.fn()).toBe('called!');
+            controller1Called = true;
+          }
+        }));
+        $compileProvider.directive('bar', valueFn({
+          bindToController: {
+            'data': '=barData',
+            'oneway': '<barData',
+            'str': '@barStr',
+            'fn': '&barFn'
+          },
+          scope: true,
+          controllerAs: 'barCtrl',
+          controller: function() {
+            expect(this.data).toEqualData({'foo2': 'bar2', 'baz2': 'biz2'});
+            expect(this.oneway).toEqualData({'foo2': 'bar2', 'baz2': 'biz2'});
+            expect(this.str).toBe('Hello, second world!');
+            expect(this.fn()).toBe('second called!');
+            controller2Called = true;
+          }
+        }));
+      });
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+        $rootScope.fn = valueFn('called!');
+        $rootScope.string = 'world';
+        $rootScope.data = {'foo': 'bar','baz': 'biz'};
+        $rootScope.fn2 = valueFn('second called!');
+        $rootScope.string2 = 'second world';
+        $rootScope.data2 = {'foo2': 'bar2', 'baz2': 'biz2'};
+        element = $compile(
+          '<div ' +
+            'foo ' +
+            'foo-data="data" ' +
+            'foo-str="Hello, {{string}}!" ' +
+            'foo-fn="fn()" ' +
+            'bar ' +
+            'bar-data="data2" ' +
+            'bar-str="Hello, {{string2}}!" ' +
+            'bar-fn="fn2()" > ' +
+          '</div>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(controller1Called).toBe(true);
+        expect(controller2Called).toBe(true);
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should evaluate against the correct scope, when using `bindToController` (new scope)',
+      function() {
+        module(function($compileProvider, $controllerProvider) {
+          $controllerProvider.register({
+            'ParentCtrl': function() {
+              this.value1 = 'parent1';
+              this.value2 = 'parent2';
+              this.value3 = function() { return 'parent3'; };
+              this.value4 = 'parent4';
+            },
+            'ChildCtrl': function() {
+              this.value1 = 'child1';
+              this.value2 = 'child2';
+              this.value3 = function() { return 'child3'; };
+              this.value4 = 'child4';
+            }
           });
         });