diff --git a/src/global/date/date.js b/src/global/date/date.js
index e4a7449e..4ae8678d 100644
--- a/src/global/date/date.js
+++ b/src/global/date/date.js
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ function DateMaskDirective($locale) {
 
 			function formatter(value) {
 				if (ctrl.$isEmpty(value)) {
-					return value;
+					return null;
 				}
 
 				var cleanValue = value;
diff --git a/src/global/date/date.test.js b/src/global/date/date.test.js
index 5baebc9b..abc73505 100644
--- a/src/global/date/date.test.js
+++ b/src/global/date/date.test.js
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ describe('ui-date-mask', function() {
 		tests.forEach(function(test) {
 			$rootScope.model = test.modelValue;
 			$rootScope.$digest();
-			expect(model.$viewValue).toBe(test.viewValue);
+			expect(model.$viewValue).toBe(null);
 		});
 	}));
 });