diff --git a/src/datepicker/datepicker.js b/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
index 577979d724..953e42b392 100644
--- a/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
+++ b/src/datepicker/datepicker.js
@@ -510,6 +510,10 @@ function ($compile, $parse, $document, $position, dateFilter, dateParser, datepi
       if (attrs.customClass){
         datepickerEl.attr('custom-class', 'customClass({ date: date, mode: mode })');
       }
+      if (attrs.initDate) {
+        scope.initDate = scope.$parent.$eval(attrs.initDate);
+        datepickerEl.attr('init-date', 'initDate');
+      }
 
       function parseDate(viewValue) {
         if (angular.isNumber(viewValue)) {
diff --git a/src/datepicker/test/datepicker.spec.js b/src/datepicker/test/datepicker.spec.js
index 84eaac7630..c4cedb1f05 100644
--- a/src/datepicker/test/datepicker.spec.js
+++ b/src/datepicker/test/datepicker.spec.js
@@ -1708,6 +1708,25 @@ describe('datepicker directive', function () {
         expect($rootScope.mode).toBe('year');
       });
     });
+
+    describe('attribute `initDate`', function () {
+      var weekHeader, weekElement;
+      beforeEach(function() {
+        $rootScope.date = null;
+        $rootScope.initDate = new Date('November 9, 1980');
+        var wrapElement = $compile('<div><input ng-model="date" datepicker-popup init-date="initDate" is-open="true"></div>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        assignElements(wrapElement);
+      });
+
+      it('should not alter the model', function() {
+        expect($rootScope.date).toBe(null);
+      });
+
+      it('shows the correct title', function() {
+        expect(getTitle()).toBe('November 1980');
+      });
+    });
   });
 
   describe('with empty initial state', function () {