diff --git a/src/ng/directive/a.js b/src/ng/directive/a.js
index 23096147145f..581f2fec5b12 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/a.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/a.js
@@ -18,10 +18,16 @@ var htmlAnchorDirective = valueFn({
   compile: function(element, attr) {
     if (!attr.href && !attr.xlinkHref && !attr.name) {
       return function(scope, element) {
+        // If the linked element is not an anchor tag anymore, do nothing
+        if (element[0].nodeName.toLowerCase() !== 'a') return;
+
         // SVGAElement does not use the href attribute, but rather the 'xlinkHref' attribute.
         var href = toString.call(element.prop('href')) === '[object SVGAnimatedString]' ?
                    'xlink:href' : 'href';
         element.on('click', function(event) {
+          // If a different element was clicked, ignore it.
+          if (element[0] !== event.target) return;
+
           // if we have no href url, then don't navigate anywhere.
           if (!element.attr(href)) {
             event.preventDefault();
diff --git a/test/ng/directive/aSpec.js b/test/ng/directive/aSpec.js
index 05f3c8b2eba7..460ea88bc2ff 100644
--- a/test/ng/directive/aSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/directive/aSpec.js
@@ -3,6 +3,25 @@
 describe('a', function() {
   var element, $compile, $rootScope;
 
+  beforeEach(module(function($compileProvider) {
+    $compileProvider.
+      directive('linkTo', valueFn({
+        restrict: 'A',
+        template: '<div class="my-link"><a href="https://github.com/%7B%7Bdestination%7D%7D">{{destination}}</a></div>',
+        replace: true,
+        scope: {
+          destination: '@linkTo'
+        }
+      })).
+      directive('linkNot', valueFn({
+        restrict: 'A',
+        template: '<div class="my-link"><a href>{{destination}}</a></div>',
+        replace: true,
+        scope: {
+          destination: '@linkNot'
+        }
+      }));
+  }));
 
   beforeEach(inject(function(_$compile_, _$rootScope_) {
     $compile = _$compile_;
@@ -76,6 +95,40 @@ describe('a', function() {
   });
 
 
+  it('should not preventDefault if anchor element is replaced with href-containing element', function() {
+    spyOn(jqLite.prototype, 'on').andCallThrough();
+    element = $compile('<a link-to="https://www.google.com/">')($rootScope);
+    $rootScope.$digest();
+
+    var child = element.children('a');
+    var preventDefault = jasmine.createSpy('preventDefault');
+
+    child.triggerHandler({
+      type: 'click',
+      preventDefault: preventDefault
+    });
+
+    expect(preventDefault).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+
+  it('should preventDefault if anchor element is replaced with element without href attribute', function() {
+    spyOn(jqLite.prototype, 'on').andCallThrough();
+    element = $compile('<a link-not="https://www.google.com/">')($rootScope);
+    $rootScope.$digest();
+
+    var child = element.children('a');
+    var preventDefault = jasmine.createSpy('preventDefault');
+
+    child.triggerHandler({
+      type: 'click',
+      preventDefault: preventDefault
+    });
+
+    expect(preventDefault).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+
   if (isDefined(window.SVGElement)) {
     describe('SVGAElement', function() {
       it('should prevent default action to be executed when href is empty', function() {