diff --git a/src/ng/compile.js b/src/ng/compile.js
index 4256adcaabc7..941c54701244 100644
--- a/src/ng/compile.js
+++ b/src/ng/compile.js
@@ -859,8 +859,13 @@ function $CompileProvider($provide, $$sanitizeUriProvider) {
           }
         }
 
-        if (cloneConnectFn) cloneConnectFn($linkNode, scope);
-        if (compositeLinkFn) compositeLinkFn(scope, $linkNode, $linkNode);
+        var overrides = {};
+        if (cloneConnectFn) {
+          angular.extend(overrides, cloneConnectFn($linkNode, scope));
+        }
+        if (compositeLinkFn && !overrides.alreadyLinked) {
+          compositeLinkFn(scope, $linkNode, $linkNode);
+        }
         return $linkNode;
       };
     }
diff --git a/test/ng/compileSpec.js b/test/ng/compileSpec.js
index 4e6d85c7dc1d..9934c3abb390 100755
--- a/test/ng/compileSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/compileSpec.js
@@ -3898,6 +3898,28 @@ describe('$compile', function() {
 
       });
 
+      it('should skip automatic linking if the user indicates they want to take care of it themselves', function() {
+        module(function() {
+          directive('transclude', valueFn({
+            transclude: 'content',
+            link: function(scope, element, attr, ctrl, $transclude) {
+              $transclude(function(clone) {
+                $compile(clone)(scope);
+                return {
+                  alreadyLinked: true
+                };
+              });
+            }
+          }));
+        });
+        inject(function($compile) {
+          $rootScope.list = ['Initial'];
+          element = $compile('<div transclude><div ng-init="list.push(\'Compiled\')"></div></div>')($rootScope);
+          $rootScope.$apply();
+          expect($rootScope.list).toEqual(['Initial', 'Compiled']);
+        });
+      });
+
       it('should expose the directive controller to transcluded children', function() {
         var capturedChildCtrl;
         module(function() {