diff --git a/src/ng/directive/ngSwitch.js b/src/ng/directive/ngSwitch.js
index 0c9e2a8db26c..24c6047ac809 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/ngSwitch.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/ngSwitch.js
@@ -62,51 +62,52 @@
 var NG_SWITCH = 'ng-switch';
 var ngSwitchDirective = valueFn({
   restrict: 'EA',
-  compile: function(element, attr) {
+  require: 'ngSwitch',
+  controller: function ngSwitchController() {
+    this.cases = {};
+  },
+  link: function(scope, element, attr, ctrl) {
     var watchExpr = attr.ngSwitch || attr.on,
-        cases = {};
+        selectedTransclude,
+        selectedElement,
+        selectedScope;
 
-    element.data(NG_SWITCH, cases);
-    return function(scope, element){
-      var selectedTransclude,
-          selectedElement,
-          selectedScope;
-
-      scope.$watch(watchExpr, function ngSwitchWatchAction(value) {
-        if (selectedElement) {
-          selectedScope.$destroy();
-          selectedElement.remove();
-          selectedElement = selectedScope = null;
-        }
-        if ((selectedTransclude = cases['!' + value] || cases['?'])) {
-          scope.$eval(attr.change);
-          selectedScope = scope.$new();
-          selectedTransclude(selectedScope, function(caseElement) {
-            selectedElement = caseElement;
-            element.append(caseElement);
-          });
-        }
-      });
-    };
+    scope.$watch(watchExpr, function ngSwitchWatchAction(value) {
+      if (selectedElement) {
+        selectedScope.$destroy();
+        selectedElement.remove();
+        selectedElement = selectedScope = null;
+      }
+      if ((selectedTransclude = ctrl.cases['!' + value] || ctrl.cases['?'])) {
+        scope.$eval(attr.change);
+        selectedScope = scope.$new();
+        selectedTransclude(selectedScope, function(caseElement) {
+          selectedElement = caseElement;
+          element.append(caseElement);
+        });
+      }
+    });
   }
 });
 
 var ngSwitchWhenDirective = ngDirective({
   transclude: 'element',
   priority: 500,
+  require: '^ngSwitch',
   compile: function(element, attrs, transclude) {
-    var cases = element.inheritedData(NG_SWITCH);
-    assertArg(cases);
-    cases['!' + attrs.ngSwitchWhen] = transclude;
+    return function(scope, element, attr, ctrl) {
+      ctrl.cases['!' + attrs.ngSwitchWhen] = transclude;
+    };
   }
 });
 
 var ngSwitchDefaultDirective = ngDirective({
   transclude: 'element',
   priority: 500,
+  require: '^ngSwitch',
   compile: function(element, attrs, transclude) {
-    var cases = element.inheritedData(NG_SWITCH);
-    assertArg(cases);
-    cases['?'] = transclude;
+    return function(scope, element, attr, ctrl) {
+      ctrl.cases['?'] = transclude;
+    };
   }
 });
diff --git a/test/ng/directive/ngSwitchSpec.js b/test/ng/directive/ngSwitchSpec.js
index 66ae5562d651..ee91f79d8667 100644
--- a/test/ng/directive/ngSwitchSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/directive/ngSwitchSpec.js
@@ -90,4 +90,19 @@ describe('ngSwitch', function() {
     expect(child2).toBeDefined();
     expect(child2).not.toBe(child1);
   }));
+
+
+  it('should not leak jq data when compiled but not attached to parent when parent is destroyed',
+      inject(function($rootScope, $compile) {
+    element = $compile(
+      '<div ng-repeat="i in []">' +
+        '<ng-switch on="url">' +
+          '<div ng-switch-when="a">{{name}}</div>' +
+        '</ng-switch>' +
+      '</div>')($rootScope);
+    $rootScope.$apply();
+
+    // element now contains only empty repeater. this element is dealocated by local afterEach.
+    // afterwards a global afterEach will check for leaks in jq data cache object
+  }));
 });