diff --git a/src/ng/directive/ngBind.js b/src/ng/directive/ngBind.js
index 5dbb0a66e87a..aa4d8fa04410 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/ngBind.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/ngBind.js
@@ -58,11 +58,9 @@ var ngBindDirective = ['$compile', function($compile) {
       $compile.$$addBindingClass(templateElement);
       return function ngBindLink(scope, element, attr) {
         $compile.$$addBindingInfo(element, attr.ngBind);
+        element = element[0];
         scope.$watch(attr.ngBind, function ngBindWatchAction(value) {
-          // We are purposefully using == here rather than === because we want to
-          // catch when value is "null or undefined"
-          // jshint -W041
-          element.text(value == undefined ? '' : value);
+          element.textContent = value === undefined ? '' : value;
         });
       };
     }
@@ -128,8 +126,9 @@ var ngBindTemplateDirective = ['$interpolate', '$compile', function($interpolate
       return function ngBindTemplateLink(scope, element, attr) {
         var interpolateFn = $interpolate(element.attr(attr.$attr.ngBindTemplate));
         $compile.$$addBindingInfo(element, interpolateFn.expressions);
+        element = element[0];
         attr.$observe('ngBindTemplate', function(value) {
-          element.text(value);
+          element.textContent = value === undefined ? '' : value;
         });
       };
     }