diff --git a/src/datepicker/datepicker.js b/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
index e3ad3a1843..c0ef015837 100644
--- a/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
+++ b/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ function ($compile, $parse, $document, $position, dateFilter, dateParser, datepi
         if (angular.isDefined(dt)) {
           scope.date = dt;
         }
-        var date = scope.date ? dateFilter(scope.date, dateFormat) : '';
+        var date = scope.date ? dateFilter(scope.date, dateFormat) : null; // Setting to NULL is necessary for form validators to function
         element.val(date);
         ngModel.$setViewValue(date);