diff --git a/src/pagination/pagination.js b/src/pagination/pagination.js
index e8ef4eeec1..321b09e599 100644
--- a/src/pagination/pagination.js
+++ b/src/pagination/pagination.js
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.pagination', [])
     }
   };
 
+  $scope.$watch('page', function() {
+    self.render();
+  });
+
   $scope.$watch('totalItems', function() {
     $scope.totalPages = self.calculateTotalPages();
   });
@@ -59,10 +63,6 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.pagination', [])
       self.render();
     }
   });
-
-  $scope.$watch('page', function() {
-    self.render();
-  });
 }])
 
 .constant('paginationConfig', {
diff --git a/src/pagination/test/pagination.spec.js b/src/pagination/test/pagination.spec.js
index 6abea98fd5..71c145ff58 100644
--- a/src/pagination/test/pagination.spec.js
+++ b/src/pagination/test/pagination.spec.js
@@ -95,6 +95,14 @@ describe('pagination directive', function () {
     expect(getPaginationEl(-1).text()).toBe('Next');
   });
 
+  it('does not change the current page when `total-items` changes but is valid', function() {
+    $rootScope.currentPage = 1;
+    $rootScope.total = 18; // 2 pages
+    $rootScope.$digest();
+
+    expect($rootScope.currentPage).toBe(1);
+  });
+
   describe('`items-per-page`', function () {
     beforeEach(inject(function() {
       $rootScope.perpage = 5;