diff --git a/docs/content/guide/directive.ngdoc b/docs/content/guide/directive.ngdoc
index 704dd48357c5..0183b1d7a9fb 100644
--- a/docs/content/guide/directive.ngdoc
+++ b/docs/content/guide/directive.ngdoc
@@ -893,11 +893,10 @@ option. Just like `ngController`, this option attaches a controller to the templ
 
 Looking back at `myPane`'s definition, notice the last argument in its `link` function: `tabsCtrl`.
 When a directive requires a controller, it receives that controller as the fourth argument of its
-`link` function. Taking advantage of this, `myPane` can call the `addPane` function of `myTabs`.
+`link` function or will be injected in your controller as $requiredControllers. Taking advantage of this, `myPane` can call the `addPane` function of `myTabs`.
 
 Savvy readers may be wondering what the difference is between `link` and `controller`.
-The basic difference is that `controller` can expose an API, and `link` functions can interact with
-controllers using `require`.
+The basic difference is that `controller` can expose an API, and `link` functions not. They both can interact with controllers using `require`.
 
 <div class="alert alert-success">
 **Best Practice:** use `controller` when you want to expose an API to other directives.
diff --git a/src/ng/compile.js b/src/ng/compile.js
index 193dff7ad19d..4e1959465571 100644
--- a/src/ng/compile.js
+++ b/src/ng/compile.js
@@ -1477,11 +1477,29 @@ function $CompileProvider($provide, $$sanitizeUriProvider) {
         transcludeFn = boundTranscludeFn && controllersBoundTransclude;
         if (controllerDirectives) {
           forEach(controllerDirectives, function(directive) {
+            // github issue #5893 Add ability to inject required controllers
+            // into the controller function
+            var requiredControllers;
+            if (directive.require && directive.require !== directive.name) {
+                // the directive requires its own controller. this would make an error
+                // this does not prevent require: "^sameDirective"
+                var requiredControllersCopy = angular.copy(directive.require);
+                if (angular.isArray(requiredControllersCopy)) {
+                    var indexOfSelf = requiredControllersCopy.indexOf(directive.name);
+                    if (indexOfSelf !== -1) {
+                        requiredControllersCopy.splice(indexOfSelf, 1);
+                    }
+                }
+                requiredControllers = requiredControllersCopy
+                    && getControllers(requiredControllersCopy, $element, elementControllers);
+            }
+          
             var locals = {
               $scope: directive === newIsolateScopeDirective || directive.$$isolateScope ? isolateScope : scope,
               $element: $element,
               $attrs: attrs,
-              $transclude: transcludeFn
+              $transclude: transcludeFn,
+              $requiredControllers: requiredControllers
             }, controllerInstance;
 
             controller = directive.controller;