diff --git a/src/ng/browser.js b/src/ng/browser.js
index f1f80bdfce6f..8d6fa80b9247 100644
--- a/src/ng/browser.js
+++ b/src/ng/browser.js
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ function Browser(window, document, $log, $sniffer) {
   //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
   var lastBrowserUrl = location.href,
-      baseElement = document.find('base');
+      baseElement = document.find('base'),
+      replacedUrl = null;
 
   /**
    * @name ng.$browser#url
@@ -159,14 +160,21 @@ function Browser(window, document, $log, $sniffer) {
           baseElement.attr('href', baseElement.attr('href'));
         }
       } else {
-        if (replace) location.replace(url);
-        else location.href = url;
+        if (replace) {
+          location.replace(url);
+          replacedUrl = url;
+        } else {
+          location.href = url;
+          replacedUrl = null;
+        }
       }
       return self;
     // getter
     } else {
-      // the replacement is a workaround for https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=407172
-      return location.href.replace(/%27/g,"'");
+      // - the replacedUrl is a workaround for an IE8-9 issue with location.replace method that doesn't update
+      //   location.href synchronously
+      // - the replacement is a workaround for https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=407172
+      return replacedUrl || location.href.replace(/%27/g,"'");
     }
   };