diff --git a/src/AngularPublic.js b/src/AngularPublic.js
index c263e1a9c8cf..aaa4bb0376ac 100644
--- a/src/AngularPublic.js
+++ b/src/AngularPublic.js
@@ -140,7 +140,8 @@ function publishExternalAPI(angular){
     'getTestability': getTestability,
     '$$minErr': minErr,
     '$$csp': csp,
-    'reloadWithDebugInfo': reloadWithDebugInfo
+    'reloadWithDebugInfo': reloadWithDebugInfo,
+    '$$hasClass': jqLiteHasClass
   });
 
   angularModule = setupModuleLoader(window);
diff --git a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
index cccb5d875ef8..e66fcd6e1cfc 100644
--- a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
+++ b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ angular.module('ngAnimate', ['ng'])
 
         var toAdd = [], toRemove = [];
         forEach(map, function(status, className) {
-          var hasClass = element.hasClass(className);
+          var hasClass = angular.$$hasClass(element[0], className);
           var matchingAnimation = lookup[className] || {};
 
           // When addClass and removeClass is called then $animate will check to
diff --git a/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js b/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
index ef1e0fecab0b..e6e71845eb97 100644
--- a/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
+++ b/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
@@ -4641,6 +4641,18 @@ describe("ngAnimate", function() {
         expect(child.hasClass('ng-enter')).toBe(false);
         expect(child.hasClass('ng-enter-active')).toBe(false);
       }));
+
+
+      it('should properly remove classes from SVG elements', inject(function($animate, $rootScope) {
+        var element = jqLite('<svg width="500" height="500"><rect class="class-of-doom"></rect></svg>');
+        var child = element.find('rect');
+        $animate.removeClass(child, 'class-of-doom');
+
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(child.attr('class')).toBe('');
+
+        dealoc(element);
+      }));
     });
   });
 });