diff --git a/js/angular/service/modal.js b/js/angular/service/modal.js
index 8802622d10b..af8c20bf3d6 100644
--- a/js/angular/service/modal.js
+++ b/js/angular/service/modal.js
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ IonicModule
   '$ionicPlatform',
   '$ionicTemplateLoader',
   '$q',
-function($rootScope, $document, $compile, $timeout, $ionicPlatform, $ionicTemplateLoader, $q) {
+  '$log',
+function($rootScope, $document, $compile, $timeout, $ionicPlatform, $ionicTemplateLoader, $q, $log) {
 
   /**
    * @ngdoc controller
@@ -88,6 +89,8 @@ function($rootScope, $document, $compile, $timeout, $ionicPlatform, $ionicTempla
      *    the modal when shown.  Default: false.
      *  - `{boolean=}` `backdropClickToClose` Whether to close the modal on clicking the backdrop.
      *    Default: true.
+     *  - `{boolean=}` `hardwareBackButtonClose` Whether the modal can be closed using the hardware
+     *    back button on Android and similar devices.  Default: true.
      */
     initialize: function(opts) {
       ionic.views.Modal.prototype.initialize.call(this, opts);
@@ -104,12 +107,10 @@ function($rootScope, $document, $compile, $timeout, $ionicPlatform, $ionicTempla
       var self = this;
 
       if(self.scope.$$destroyed) {
-        console.error('Cannot call modal.show() after remove(). Please create a new modal instance using $ionicModal.');
+        $log.error('Cannot call modal.show() after remove(). Please create a new modal instance using $ionicModal.');
         return;
       }
 
-      console.log(self.scope);
-
       var modalEl = jqLite(self.modalEl);
 
       self.el.classList.remove('hide');
@@ -127,9 +128,13 @@ function($rootScope, $document, $compile, $timeout, $ionicPlatform, $ionicTempla
              .removeClass('ng-leave ng-leave-active');
 
       self._isShown = true;
-      self._deregisterBackButton = $ionicPlatform.registerBackButtonAction(function(){
-        self.hide();
-      }, 200);
+      self._deregisterBackButton = self.hardwareBackButtonClose ?
+        $ionicPlatform.registerBackButtonAction(
+          angular.bind(self, self.hide),
+          PLATFORM_BACK_BUTTON_PRIORITY_MODAL
+        ) :
+        angular.noop;
+
       self._isOpenPromise = $q.defer();
 
       ionic.views.Modal.prototype.show.call(self);
diff --git a/js/angular/service/platform.js b/js/angular/service/platform.js
index 87208297839..053425c2c23 100644
--- a/js/angular/service/platform.js
+++ b/js/angular/service/platform.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 var PLATFORM_BACK_BUTTON_PRIORITY_VIEW = 100;
 var PLATFORM_BACK_BUTTON_PRIORITY_SIDE_MENU = 150;
+var PLATFORM_BACK_BUTTON_PRIORITY_MODAL = 200;
 var PLATFORM_BACK_BUTTON_PRIORITY_ACTION_SHEET = 300;
 var PLATFORM_BACK_BUTTON_PRIORITY_POPUP = 400;
 var PLATFORM_BACK_BUTTON_PRIORITY_LOADING = 500;
diff --git a/js/views/modalView.js b/js/views/modalView.js
index c3832bdf75c..d9fde78de8f 100644
--- a/js/views/modalView.js
+++ b/js/views/modalView.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
         unfocusOnHide: true,
         focusFirstDelay: 600,
         backdropClickToClose: true,
+        hardwareBackButtonClose: true,
       }, opts);
 
       ionic.extend(this, opts);
diff --git a/test/unit/angular/service/modal.unit.js b/test/unit/angular/service/modal.unit.js
index c3e2df40c8e..e77672a2afd 100644
--- a/test/unit/angular/service/modal.unit.js
+++ b/test/unit/angular/service/modal.unit.js
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ describe('Ionic Modal', function() {
     expect(instance.scope.$destroy).toHaveBeenCalled();
   }));
 
-  it('Should close on hardware back button', inject(function($ionicPlatform) {
+  it('Should close on hardware back button by default', inject(function($ionicPlatform) {
     var template = '<div class="modal"></div>';
     var instance = modal.fromTemplate(template);
     spyOn($ionicPlatform, 'registerBackButtonAction').andCallThrough();
@@ -101,6 +101,27 @@ describe('Ionic Modal', function() {
     expect(instance.isShown()).toBe(false);
   }));
 
+  it('should not close on hardware back button if option', inject(function($ionicPlatform) {
+    var template = '<div class="modal"></div>';
+    var instance = modal.fromTemplate(template, {
+      hardwareBackButtonClose: false
+    });
+    spyOn($ionicPlatform, 'registerBackButtonAction');
+    instance.show();
+    timeout.flush();
+    expect($ionicPlatform.registerBackButtonAction).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  }));
+
+  it('should call _deregisterBackButton on hide', function() {
+    var template = '<div class="modal"></div>';
+    var instance = modal.fromTemplate(template);
+    instance.show();
+    timeout.flush();
+    spyOn(instance, '_deregisterBackButton');
+    instance.hide();
+    expect(instance._deregisterBackButton).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it('should close modal on backdrop click after animate is done', function() {
     var template = '<div class="modal"></div>';
     var instance = modal.fromTemplate(template);