diff --git a/src/dropdown/docs/readme.md b/src/dropdown/docs/readme.md
index 09b646d072..3026673ce2 100644
--- a/src/dropdown/docs/readme.md
+++ b/src/dropdown/docs/readme.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Each of these parts need to be used as attribute directives.
 * `dropdown-append-to-body`
   <small class="badge">B</small>
   _(Default: `false`)_ -
-  Appends the inner dropdown-menu to the body element.
+  Appends the inner dropdown-menu to the body element if the attribute is present without a value, or with a non `false` value.
 
 * `is-open`
   <small class="badge">$</small>
diff --git a/src/dropdown/dropdown.js b/src/dropdown/dropdown.js
index 7c5f805419..312e880905 100644
--- a/src/dropdown/dropdown.js
+++ b/src/dropdown/dropdown.js
@@ -144,8 +144,6 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.dropdown', ['ui.bootstrap.multiMap', 'ui.bootstrap.
     getIsOpen,
     setIsOpen = angular.noop,
     toggleInvoker = $attrs.onToggle ? $parse($attrs.onToggle) : angular.noop,
-    appendToBody = false,
-    appendTo = null,
     keynavEnabled = false,
     selectedOption = null,
     body = $document.find('body');
@@ -162,26 +160,7 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.dropdown', ['ui.bootstrap.multiMap', 'ui.bootstrap.
       });
     }
 
-    if (angular.isDefined($attrs.dropdownAppendTo)) {
-      var appendToEl = $parse($attrs.dropdownAppendTo)(scope);
-      if (appendToEl) {
-        appendTo = angular.element(appendToEl);
-      }
-    }
-
-    appendToBody = angular.isDefined($attrs.dropdownAppendToBody);
     keynavEnabled = angular.isDefined($attrs.keyboardNav);
-
-    if (appendToBody && !appendTo) {
-      appendTo = body;
-    }
-
-    if (appendTo && self.dropdownMenu) {
-      appendTo.append(self.dropdownMenu);
-      $element.on('$destroy', function handleDestroyEvent() {
-        self.dropdownMenu.remove();
-      });
-    }
   };
 
   this.toggle = function(open) {
@@ -253,7 +232,42 @@ angular.module('ui.bootstrap.dropdown', ['ui.bootstrap.multiMap', 'ui.bootstrap.
     }
   };
 
+  function removeDropdownMenu() {
+    $element.append(self.dropdownMenu);
+  }
+
   scope.$watch('isOpen', function(isOpen, wasOpen) {
+    var appendTo = null,
+      appendToBody = false;
+
+    if (angular.isDefined($attrs.dropdownAppendTo)) {
+      var appendToEl = $parse($attrs.dropdownAppendTo)(scope);
+      if (appendToEl) {
+        appendTo = angular.element(appendToEl);
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (angular.isDefined($attrs.dropdownAppendToBody)) {
+      var appendToBodyValue = $parse($attrs.dropdownAppendToBody)(scope);
+      if (appendToBodyValue !== false) {
+        appendToBody = true;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (appendToBody && !appendTo) {
+      appendTo = body;
+    }
+
+    if (appendTo && self.dropdownMenu) {
+      if (isOpen) {
+        appendTo.append(self.dropdownMenu);
+        $element.on('$destroy', removeDropdownMenu);
+      } else {
+        $element.off('$destroy', removeDropdownMenu);
+        removeDropdownMenu();
+      }
+    }
+
     if (appendTo && self.dropdownMenu) {
       var pos = $position.positionElements($element, self.dropdownMenu, 'bottom-left', true),
         css,
diff --git a/src/dropdown/test/dropdown.spec.js b/src/dropdown/test/dropdown.spec.js
index dce7542ba8..17226b5c5e 100644
--- a/src/dropdown/test/dropdown.spec.js
+++ b/src/dropdown/test/dropdown.spec.js
@@ -215,43 +215,198 @@ describe('uib-dropdown', function() {
   });
 
   describe('using dropdown-append-to-body', function() {
-    function dropdown() {
-      return $compile('<li uib-dropdown dropdown-append-to-body><a href uib-dropdown-toggle></a><ul uib-dropdown-menu id="dropdown-menu"><li><a href>Hello On Body</a></li></ul></li>')($rootScope);
-    }
-
-    beforeEach(function() {
-      element = dropdown();
-      $document.find('body').append(element);
-    });
-
-    afterEach(function() {
-      element.remove();
-    });
+    describe('with no value', function() {
+      function dropdown() {
+        return $compile('<li uib-dropdown dropdown-append-to-body><a href uib-dropdown-toggle></a><ul uib-dropdown-menu id="dropdown-menu"><li><a href>Hello On Body</a></li></ul></li>')($rootScope);
+      }
 
-    it('adds the menu to the body', function() {
-      expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
-    });
+      beforeEach(function() {
+        element = dropdown();
+        $document.find('body').append(element);
+      });
 
-    it('focuses the dropdown element on close', function() {
-      var toggle = element.find('[uib-dropdown-toggle]');
-      var menu = $document.find('#dropdown-menu a');
-      toggle.trigger('click');
-      menu.focus();
+      afterEach(function() {
+        element.remove();
+      });
 
-      menu.trigger('click');
+      it('does not add the menu to the body', function() {
+        expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+      });
 
-      expect(document.activeElement).toBe(toggle[0]);
+      describe('when toggled open', function() {
+        var toggle;
+        beforeEach(function() {
+          toggle = element.find('[uib-dropdown-toggle]');
+          toggle.trigger('click');
+        });
+        it('adds the menu to the body', function() {
+          expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+        });
+
+        describe('when toggled closed', function() {
+          beforeEach(function() {
+            toggle.trigger('click');
+          });
+          it('removes the menu from body', function() {
+            expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+          });
+        });
+
+        describe('when closed by clicking on menu', function() {
+          var menu;
+          beforeEach(function() {
+            menu = $document.find('#dropdown-menu a');
+            menu.focus();
+            menu.trigger('click');
+          });
+          it('focuses the dropdown element on close', function() {
+            expect(document.activeElement).toBe(toggle[0]);
+          });
+          it('removes the menu from body', function() {
+            expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+          });
+        });
+        describe('when the dropdown is removed', function() {
+          beforeEach(function() {
+            element.remove();
+            $rootScope.$digest();
+          });
+          it('removes the menu from body', function() {
+            expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+          });
+        });
+      });
     });
 
-    it('removes the menu when the dropdown is removed', function() {
-      element.remove();
-      $rootScope.$digest();
-      expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').length).toEqual(0);
+    describe('with a value', function() {
+      function dropdown() {
+        return $compile('<li uib-dropdown dropdown-append-to-body="appendToBody"><a href uib-dropdown-toggle></a><ul uib-dropdown-menu id="dropdown-menu"><li><a href>Hello On Body</a></li></ul></li>')($rootScope);
+      }
+      describe('that is not false', function() {
+        beforeEach(function() {
+          $rootScope.appendToBody = 'sure';
+
+          element = dropdown();
+          $document.find('body').append(element);
+        });
+
+        afterEach(function() {
+          element.remove();
+        });
+        it('does not add the menu to the body', function() {
+          expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+        });
+
+        describe('when toggled open', function() {
+          var toggle;
+          beforeEach(function() {
+            toggle = element.find('[uib-dropdown-toggle]');
+            toggle.trigger('click');
+          });
+          it('adds the menu to the body', function() {
+            expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+          });
+
+          describe('when toggled closed', function() {
+            beforeEach(function() {
+              toggle.trigger('click');
+            });
+            it('removes the menu from body', function() {
+              expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+            });
+          });
+
+          describe('when closed by clicking on menu', function() {
+            var menu;
+            beforeEach(function() {
+              menu = $document.find('#dropdown-menu a');
+              menu.focus();
+              menu.trigger('click');
+            });
+            it('focuses the dropdown element on close', function() {
+              expect(document.activeElement).toBe(toggle[0]);
+            });
+            it('removes the menu from body', function() {
+              expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+            });
+          });
+          describe('when the dropdown is removed', function() {
+            beforeEach(function() {
+              element.remove();
+              $rootScope.$digest();
+            });
+            it('removes the menu from body', function() {
+              expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+            });
+          });
+        });
+      });
+
+      describe('that is false', function() {
+        beforeEach(function() {
+          $rootScope.appendToBody = false;
+
+          element = dropdown();
+          $document.find('body').append(element);
+        });
+
+        afterEach(function() {
+          element.remove();
+        });
+
+        it('does not add the menu to the body', function() {
+          expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+        });
+
+        describe('when toggled open', function() {
+          var toggle;
+          beforeEach(function() {
+            toggle = element.find('[uib-dropdown-toggle]');
+            toggle.trigger('click');
+          });
+          it('does not add the menu to the body', function() {
+            expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+          });
+
+          describe('when toggled closed', function() {
+            beforeEach(function() {
+              toggle.trigger('click');
+            });
+            it('does not remove the menu', function() {
+              expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').length).not.toEqual(0);
+            });
+          });
+
+          describe('when closed by clicking on menu', function() {
+            var menu;
+            beforeEach(function() {
+              menu = $document.find('#dropdown-menu a');
+              menu.focus();
+              menu.trigger('click');
+            });
+            it('focuses the dropdown element on close', function() {
+              expect(document.activeElement).toBe(toggle[0]);
+            });
+            it('does not removes the menu from body', function() {
+              expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+            });
+          });
+          describe('when the dropdown is removed', function() {
+            beforeEach(function() {
+              element.remove();
+              $rootScope.$digest();
+            });
+            it('removes the menu from body', function() {
+              expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+            });
+          });
+        });
+      });
     });
   });
 
   describe('using dropdown-append-to', function() {
-    var initialPage;
+    var initialPage, container;
 
     function dropdown() {
       return $compile('<li uib-dropdown dropdown-append-to="appendTo"><a href uib-dropdown-toggle></a><ul class="dropdown-menu" uib-dropdown-menu id="dropdown-menu"><li><a href>Hello On Container</a></li></ul></li>')($rootScope);
@@ -260,7 +415,7 @@ describe('uib-dropdown', function() {
     beforeEach(function() {
       $document.find('body').append(angular.element('<div id="dropdown-container"></div>'));
 
-      $rootScope.appendTo = $document.find('#dropdown-container');
+      $rootScope.appendTo = container = $document.find('#dropdown-container');
 
       element = dropdown();
       $document.find('body').append(element);
@@ -271,35 +426,64 @@ describe('uib-dropdown', function() {
       $document.find('#dropdown-container').remove();
     });
 
-    it('appends to container', function() {
-      expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0].id).toBe('dropdown-container');
+    it('does not add the menu to the container', function() {
+      expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe(container[0]);
     });
-
-    it('toggles open class on container', function() {
-      var container = $document.find('#dropdown-container');
-
-      expect(container).not.toHaveClass('uib-dropdown-open');
-      element.find('[uib-dropdown-toggle]').click();
-      expect(container).toHaveClass('uib-dropdown-open');
-      element.find('[uib-dropdown-toggle]').click();
+    it('does not add open class on container', function() {
       expect(container).not.toHaveClass('uib-dropdown-open');
     });
 
-    it('focuses the dropdown element on close', function() {
-      var toggle = element.find('[uib-dropdown-toggle]');
-      var menu = $document.find('#dropdown-menu a');
-      toggle.trigger('click');
-      menu.focus();
-
-      menu.trigger('click');
+    describe('when toggled open', function() {
+      var toggle;
+      beforeEach(function() {
+        toggle = element.find('[uib-dropdown-toggle]');
+        toggle.trigger('click');
+      });
+      it('adds the menu to the container', function() {
+        expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).toBe(container[0]);
+      });
+      it('adds open class on container', function() {
+        expect(container).toHaveClass('uib-dropdown-open');
+      });
 
-      expect(document.activeElement).toBe(toggle[0]);
-    });
+      describe('when toggled closed', function() {
+        beforeEach(function() {
+          toggle.trigger('click');
+        });
+        it('removes the menu from the container', function() {
+          expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+        });
+        it('removes open class from container', function() {
+          expect(container).not.toHaveClass('uib-dropdown-open');
+        });
+      });
 
-    it('removes the menu when the dropdown is removed', function() {
-      element.remove();
-      $rootScope.$digest();
-      expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').length).toEqual(0);
+      describe('when closed by clicking on menu', function() {
+        var menu;
+        beforeEach(function() {
+          menu = $document.find('#dropdown-menu a');
+          menu.focus();
+          menu.trigger('click');
+        });
+        it('focuses the dropdown element on close', function() {
+          expect(document.activeElement).toBe(toggle[0]);
+        });
+        it('removes the menu from the container', function() {
+          expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+        });
+        it('removes open class from container', function() {
+          expect(container).not.toHaveClass('uib-dropdown-open');
+        });
+      });
+      describe('when the dropdown is removed', function() {
+        beforeEach(function() {
+          element.remove();
+          $rootScope.$digest();
+        });
+        it('removes the menu from the container', function() {
+          expect($document.find('#dropdown-menu').parent()[0]).not.toBe($document.find('body')[0]);
+        });
+      });
     });
   });