diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ac65240..378c898 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ node_modules/
 coverage/
 junit/
 dist/
-out/
\ No newline at end of file
+out/
diff --git a/src/sortable.js b/src/sortable.js
index 14c2679..1136a76 100644
--- a/src/sortable.js
+++ b/src/sortable.js
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ angular.module('ui.sortable', [])
               return inner;
             };
 
-            scope.$watch('uiSortable', function(newVal /*, oldVal*/) {
+            scope.$watchCollection('uiSortable', function(newVal /*, oldVal*/) {
               // ensure that the jquery-ui-sortable widget instance
               // is still bound to the directive's element
               var sortableWidgetInstance = getSortableWidgetInstance(element);
diff --git a/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js b/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js
index 1be9306..65c12dd 100644
--- a/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js
+++ b/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js
@@ -446,6 +446,36 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
       });
     });
 
+    it('should work when "helper: clone" and "appendTo" options are used together', function() {
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+        var element;
+        element = $compile('<ul ui-sortable="opts" ng-model="items"><li ng-repeat="item in items" id="s-{{$index}}" class="sortable-item">{{ item }}</li></ul>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$apply(function() {
+          $rootScope.opts = {
+            helper: 'clone',
+            appendTo: document.body
+          };
+          $rootScope.items = ['One', 'Two', 'Three'];
+        });
+
+        host.append(element);
+
+        var li = element.find(':eq(1)');
+        var dy = (1 + EXTRA_DY_PERCENTAGE) * li.outerHeight();
+        li.simulate('drag', { dy: dy });
+        expect($rootScope.items).toEqual(['One', 'Three', 'Two']);
+        expect($rootScope.items).toEqual(listContent(element));
+
+        li = element.find(':eq(2)');
+        dy = -(1 + EXTRA_DY_PERCENTAGE) * li.outerHeight();
+        li.simulate('drag', { dy: dy });
+        expect($rootScope.items).toEqual(['One', 'Two', 'Three']);
+        expect($rootScope.items).toEqual(listContent(element));
+
+        $(element).remove();
+      });
+    });
+
     it('should work when "helper: clone" and "placeholder" options are used together.', function() {
       inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
         var element;