diff --git a/src/ng/q.js b/src/ng/q.js
index 22c9caa9a973..df1d6ae9f3bf 100644
--- a/src/ng/q.js
+++ b/src/ng/q.js
@@ -57,11 +57,17 @@
  *
  * # The Deferred API
  *
- * A new instance of deferred is constructed by calling `$q.defer()`.
+ * A new instance of deferred is constructed by calling `$q.defer(canceler)`.
  *
  * The purpose of the deferred object is to expose the associated Promise instance as well as APIs
  * that can be used for signaling the successful or unsuccessful completion of the task.
  *
+ * `$q.defer` can optionally take a canceler function. This function will cause resulting promises,
+ * and any derived promises, to have a `cancel()` method, and will be invoked if the promise is
+ * canceled. The canceler receives the reason the promise was canceled as its argument. The promise
+ * is rejected with the canceler's return value or the original cancel reason if nothing is
+ * returned.
+ *
  * **Methods**
  *
  * - `resolve(value)` – resolves the derived promise with the `value`. If the value is a rejection
@@ -97,6 +103,11 @@
  *   specification](https://github.com/kriskowal/q/wiki/API-Reference#promisefinallycallback) for
  *   more information.
  *
+ * - `cancel(reason)` - optionally available if a canceler was provided to `$q.defer`. The canceler
+ *   is invoked and the promise rejected. A reason may be sent to the canceler explaining why it's
+ *   being canceled. Returns true if the promise has not been resolved and was successfully
+ *   canceled.
+ *
  * # Chaining promises
  *
  * Because calling `then` api of a promise returns a new derived promise, it is easily possible
@@ -180,9 +191,10 @@ function qFactory(nextTick, exceptionHandler) {
    * @description
    * Creates a `Deferred` object which represents a task which will finish in the future.
    *
+   * @param {function(*)=} canceler Function which will be called if the task is canceled.
    * @returns {Deferred} Returns a new instance of deferred.
    */
-  var defer = function() {
+  var defer = function(canceler) {
     var pending = [],
         value, deferred;
 
@@ -214,7 +226,7 @@ function qFactory(nextTick, exceptionHandler) {
 
       promise: {
         then: function(callback, errback) {
-          var result = defer();
+          var result = defer(wrappedCanceler);
 
           var wrappedCallback = function(value) {
             try {
@@ -281,6 +293,27 @@ function qFactory(nextTick, exceptionHandler) {
       }
     };
 
+    if (isFunction(canceler)) {
+      var wrappedCanceler = function(reason) {
+        try {
+          var value = canceler(reason);
+          if (isDefined(value)) reason = value;
+        } catch(e) {
+          exceptionHandler(e);
+          reason = e;
+        }
+        when(reason).then(deferred.reject, deferred.reject);
+        return reason;
+      };
+
+      deferred.promise.cancel = function(reason) {
+        if (pending) {
+          return !(wrappedCanceler(reason) instanceof Error);
+        }
+        return false;
+      };
+    }
+
     return deferred;
   };
 
diff --git a/test/ng/qSpec.js b/test/ng/qSpec.js
index 0c59db89496b..bdcc5d4818d4 100644
--- a/test/ng/qSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/qSpec.js
@@ -350,6 +350,94 @@ describe('q', function() {
         expect(typeof promise.always).toBe('function');
       });
 
+      it('should not have a cancel method if no canceler is provided', function() {
+        expect(promise.cancel).not.toBeDefined();
+      });
+
+      it('should have a cancel method if a canceler is provided', function() {
+        deferred = defer(noop);
+        promise = deferred.promise;
+        expect(promise.cancel).toBeDefined();
+        promise = promise.always(noop);
+        expect(promise.cancel).toBeDefined();
+      });
+
+
+      describe('cancel', function() {
+        var canceler;
+
+        beforeEach(function() {
+          canceler = jasmine.createSpy();
+          deferred =  defer(canceler);
+          promise = deferred.promise;
+        });
+
+        it('should cancel a pending task and reject the promise', function() {
+          promise.then(success(), error());
+          expect(promise.cancel('foo')).toBe(true);
+          expect(canceler).toHaveBeenCalledWith('foo');
+          mockNextTick.flush();
+          expect(logStr()).toBe('error(foo)');
+        });
+
+        it('should reject the promise with a reason returned from the canceler', function() {
+          canceler.andReturn('bar');
+          promise.then(success(), error());
+          expect(promise.cancel('foo')).toBe(true);
+          expect(canceler).toHaveBeenCalledWith('foo');
+          mockNextTick.flush();
+          expect(logStr()).toBe('error(bar)');
+        });
+
+        it('should log exceptions thrown in the canceler', function() {
+          canceler.andThrow(Error('oops'));
+          promise.then(success(), error());
+          expect(promise.cancel('foo')).toBe(false);
+          expect(canceler).toHaveBeenCalledWith('foo');
+          mockNextTick.flush();
+          expect(logStr()).toBe('error(Error: oops)');
+        });
+
+        it('should not cancel a resolved promise', function() {
+          promise.then(success(), error());
+          syncResolve(deferred, 'foo');
+          expect(promise.cancel('bar')).toBe(false);
+          expect(canceler).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+          expect(logStr()).toBe('success(foo)');
+        });
+
+        it('should propagate the cancel method and reasons', function() {
+          promise = promise.then(success(1), error(1)).then(success(2), error(2));
+          expect(promise.cancel).toBeDefined();
+          expect(promise.cancel('foo')).toBe(true);
+          expect(canceler).toHaveBeenCalledWith('foo');
+          mockNextTick.flush();
+          expect(logStr()).toBe('error1(foo); error2(foo)');
+        });
+
+        it('should reject all derived promises', function() {
+          var promiseA = promise.then(success('A'), error('A'));
+          var promiseB = promise.then(success('B'), error('B'));
+          var promiseC = promiseB.then(success('C'), error('C'));
+          var promiseD = promiseB.then(success('D'), error('D'));
+          var promiseE = promiseD.always(error('E'));
+          expect(promiseC.cancel('foo')).toBe(true);
+          expect(canceler).toHaveBeenCalledWith('foo');
+          mockNextTick.flush();
+          expect(logStr()).toBe('errorA(foo); errorB(foo); errorC(foo); errorD(foo); errorE()');
+        });
+
+        it('should resolve promises returned by the canceler', function() {
+          var deferred2 = defer();
+          canceler.andReturn(deferred2.promise.then(success('A')));
+          promise.then(success('B'), error('B'));
+          expect(promise.cancel('foo')).toBe(true);
+          expect(canceler).toHaveBeenCalledWith('foo');
+          syncResolve(deferred2, 'bar');
+          expect(logStr()).toBe('successA(bar); errorB(bar)');
+        })
+      });
+
 
       describe('then', function() {
         it('should allow registration of a success callback without an errback and resolve',