diff --git a/src/directives.js b/src/directives.js
index ea09fc06fcf1..54469ea77f3c 100644
--- a/src/directives.js
+++ b/src/directives.js
@@ -524,9 +524,8 @@ angularDirective("ng:click", function(expression, element){
 angularDirective("ng:submit", function(expression, element) {
   return function(element) {
     var self = this;
-    element.bind('submit', function(event) {
+    element.bind('submit', function() {
       self.$apply(expression);
-      event.preventDefault();
     });
   };
 });
diff --git a/src/widget/form.js b/src/widget/form.js
index 51864cf0037a..7605183261dc 100644
--- a/src/widget/form.js
+++ b/src/widget/form.js
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ angularWidget('form', function(form){
         parentForm = $formFactory.forElement(formElement),
         form = $formFactory(parentForm);
     formElement.data('$form', form);
-    formElement.bind('submit', function(event){
-      event.preventDefault();
+    formElement.bind('submit', function(event) {
+      if (!formElement.attr('action')) event.preventDefault();
     });
     if (name) {
       this[name] = form;
diff --git a/test/widget/formSpec.js b/test/widget/formSpec.js
index 7a92dbf43443..f2e90d9ebfca 100644
--- a/test/widget/formSpec.js
+++ b/test/widget/formSpec.js
@@ -29,6 +29,22 @@ describe('form', function() {
   }));
 
 
+  it('should not prevent form submission if action attribute present',
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+    var callback = jasmine.createSpy('submit').andCallFake(function(event) {
+      expect(event.isDefaultPrevented()).toBe(false);
+      event.preventDefault();
+    });
+
+    doc = angular.element('<form name="x" action="some.py" />');
+    $compile(doc)($rootScope);
+    doc.bind('submit', callback);
+
+    browserTrigger(doc, 'submit');
+    expect(callback).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+  }));
+
+
   it('should publish form to scope', inject(function($rootScope, $compile) {
     doc = angular.element('<form name="myForm"></form>');
     $compile(doc)($rootScope);