diff --git a/src/ng/directive/form.js b/src/ng/directive/form.js
index 717d17a6e159..a89c0e46e4eb 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/form.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/form.js
@@ -454,7 +454,8 @@ var formDirectiveFactory = function(isNgForm) {
 
         return {
           pre: function ngFormPreLink(scope, formElement, attr, controller) {
-            if (!attr.action) {
+            // if `action` attr is not present on the form, prevent the default action (submission)
+            if (!('action' in attr)) {
               // we can't use jq events because if a form is destroyed during submission the default
               // action is not prevented. see #1238
               //
diff --git a/test/ng/directive/ngEventDirsSpec.js b/test/ng/directive/ngEventDirsSpec.js
index 71e89343d289..d75398228e59 100644
--- a/test/ng/directive/ngEventDirsSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/directive/ngEventDirsSpec.js
@@ -12,10 +12,14 @@ describe('event directives', function() {
   describe('ngSubmit', function() {
 
     it('should get called on form submit', inject(function($rootScope, $compile) {
-      element = $compile('<form action="" ng-submit="submitted = true">' +
+      element = $compile('<form action="/foo" ng-submit="submitted = true">' +
         '<input type="submit"/>' +
         '</form>')($rootScope);
       $rootScope.$digest();
+
+      // prevent submit within the test harness
+      element.on('submit', function(e) { e.preventDefault(); });
+
       expect($rootScope.submitted).not.toBeDefined();
 
       browserTrigger(element.children()[0]);
@@ -29,10 +33,14 @@ describe('event directives', function() {
         }
       };
 
-      element = $compile('<form action="" ng-submit="formSubmission($event)">' +
+      element = $compile('<form action="/foo" ng-submit="formSubmission($event)">' +
         '<input type="submit"/>' +
         '</form>')($rootScope);
       $rootScope.$digest();
+
+      // prevent submit within the test harness
+      element.on('submit', function(e) { e.preventDefault(); });
+
       expect($rootScope.formSubmitted).not.toBeDefined();
 
       browserTrigger(element.children()[0]);