diff --git a/src/modal/modal.js b/src/modal/modal.js
index f591088161..49745c34c2 100644
--- a/src/modal/modal.js
+++ b/src/modal/modal.js
@@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.modal', ['ui.bootstrap.stackedMap'])
                   }
                 });
 
-                var ctrlInstance, ctrlLocals = {};
+                var ctrlInstance, ctrlInstantiate, ctrlLocals = {};
 
                 //controllers
                 if (modalOptions.controller) {
@@ -681,18 +681,27 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.modal', ['ui.bootstrap.stackedMap'])
                     ctrlLocals[key] = value;
                   });
 
-                  ctrlInstance = $controller(modalOptions.controller, ctrlLocals);
+                  // the third param will make the controller instantiate later,private api
+                  // @see https://github.com/angular/angular.js/blob/master/src/ng/controller.js#L126
+                  ctrlInstantiate = $controller(modalOptions.controller, ctrlLocals, true);
                   if (modalOptions.controllerAs) {
+                    ctrlInstance = ctrlInstantiate.instance;
+
                     if (modalOptions.bindToController) {
                       ctrlInstance.$close = modalScope.$close;
                       ctrlInstance.$dismiss = modalScope.$dismiss;
                       angular.extend(ctrlInstance, providedScope);
-                      if (angular.isFunction(ctrlInstance.$onInit)) {
-                        ctrlInstance.$onInit();
-                      }
                     }
 
+                    ctrlInstance = ctrlInstantiate();
+
                     modalScope[modalOptions.controllerAs] = ctrlInstance;
+                  } else {
+                    ctrlInstance = ctrlInstantiate();
+                  }
+
+                  if (angular.isFunction(ctrlInstance.$onInit)) {
+                    ctrlInstance.$onInit();
                   }
                 }
 
diff --git a/src/modal/test/modal.spec.js b/src/modal/test/modal.spec.js
index 84d22f50ba..43775634dc 100644
--- a/src/modal/test/modal.spec.js
+++ b/src/modal/test/modal.spec.js
@@ -815,6 +815,7 @@ describe('$uibModal', function() {
         open({
           template: '<div>{{test.fromCtrl}} {{test.closeDismissPresent()}} {{test.foo}}</div>',
           controller: function($uibModalInstance) {
+            expect(this.foo).toEqual($scope.foo);
             this.fromCtrl = 'Content from ctrl';
             this.closeDismissPresent = function() {
               return angular.isFunction(this.$close) && angular.isFunction(this.$dismiss);