diff --git a/src/datepicker/datepicker.js b/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
index 79542565e9..49ad11d19c 100644
--- a/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
+++ b/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
@@ -813,7 +813,8 @@ function(scope, element, attrs, $compile, $parse, $document, $rootScope, $positi
 
             scope.watchData[key] = value === null ? null : cache[key];
           } else {
-            scope.watchData[key] = dateParser.fromTimezone(new Date(value), ngModelOptions.timezone);
+            var date = value ? new Date(value) : new Date();
+            scope.watchData[key] = dateParser.fromTimezone(date, ngModelOptions.timezone);
           }
         }));