diff --git a/src/modal/modal.js b/src/modal/modal.js
index eadc44e777..784688b92a 100644
--- a/src/modal/modal.js
+++ b/src/modal/modal.js
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.modal', [])
           }
           afterAnimating.done = true;
 
-          domEl.remove();
+          $animate.leave(domEl);
           scope.$destroy();
           if (done) {
             done();