diff --git a/src/directives/gmMarkers.js b/src/directives/gmMarkers.js
index 063ace3..3a454ca 100644
--- a/src/directives/gmMarkers.js
+++ b/src/directives/gmMarkers.js
@@ -85,10 +85,11 @@
  *
  *   Parameters:
  *
- *       + `objects`: required. The name of the scope variable which holds the
- *       objects to redraw markers for. This is what you set `gm-objects` to.
- *       It is necessary because there may be multiple instances of the
- *       `gmMarkers` directive.
+ *       + `objects`: Not required. The name of the scope variable which holds
+ *       the objects to redraw markers for, i.e. what you set `gm-objects` to.
+ *       It is useful because there may be multiple instances of the
+ *       `gmMarkers` directive. If not specified, all instances of gmMarkers
+ *       which are child scopes will redraw their markers.
  *
  *   + `gmMarkersUpdated`: emitted when markers are updated. To use: 
  *   ```
@@ -219,7 +220,7 @@
       });
 
       scope.$on('gmMarkersRedraw', function(event, objectsName) {
-        if (objectsName === attrs.gmObjects) {
+        if (objectsName == null || objectsName === attrs.gmObjects) {
           updateMarkers(scope);
           updateMarkers(scope, scope.gmObjects());
         }
diff --git a/test/unit/directives/gmMarkersSpec.js b/test/unit/directives/gmMarkersSpec.js
index 1836efe..75d0566 100644
--- a/test/unit/directives/gmMarkersSpec.js
+++ b/test/unit/directives/gmMarkersSpec.js
@@ -243,6 +243,22 @@ describe('gmMarkers', function() {
   });
 
 
+  it('listens to marker redraw event when no objects specified', function() {
+    var position1 = objToLatLng(scope.people[0]);
+    var position2 = objToLatLng(scope.people[1]);
+    scope.getOpts = function(person) {
+      return {
+        key: 'differentValue',
+        title: person.name
+      };
+    };
+    scope.$broadcast('gmMarkersRedraw');
+
+    expect(mapCtrl.addMarker).toHaveBeenCalledWith(markersScopeId, {key: 'differentValue', title: jasmine.any(String), position: position1});
+    expect(mapCtrl.addMarker).toHaveBeenCalledWith(markersScopeId, {key: 'differentValue', title: jasmine.any(String), position: position2});
+  });
+
+
   it('ignores marker redraw event for other instance', function() {
     scope.getOpts = function(person) {
       return {