diff --git a/src/sortable.js b/src/sortable.js
index 400ee15..85f1f74 100644
--- a/src/sortable.js
+++ b/src/sortable.js
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ angular.module('ui.sortable', [])
       return {
         require: '?ngModel',
         scope: {
-          ngModel: '=ngModel',
-          uiSortable: '=uiSortable'
+          ngModel: '=',
+          uiSortable: '='
         },
         link: function(scope, element, attrs, ngModel) {
           var savedNodes;
@@ -47,6 +47,18 @@ angular.module('ui.sortable', [])
             return (/left|right/).test(item.css('float')) || (/inline|table-cell/).test(item.css('display'));
           }
 
+          function getElementScope(elementScopes, element) {
+            var result = null;
+            for (var i = 0; i < elementScopes.length; i++) {
+              var x = elementScopes[i];
+              if (x.element[0] === element[0]) {
+                result = x.scope;
+                break;
+              }
+            }
+            return result;
+          }
+
           function afterStop(e, ui) {
             ui.item.sortable._destroy();
           }
@@ -126,7 +138,7 @@ angular.module('ui.sortable', [])
               };
             };
 
-            callbacks.activate = function(/*e, ui*/) {
+            callbacks.activate = function(e, ui) {
               // We need to make a copy of the current element's contents so
               // we can restore it after sortable has messed it up.
               // This is inside activate (instead of start) in order to save
@@ -151,10 +163,20 @@ angular.module('ui.sortable', [])
                 // exact match with the placeholder's class attribute to handle
                 // the case that multiple connected sortables exist and
                 // the placehoilder option equals the class of sortable items
-                var excludes = element.find('[class="' + phElement.attr('class') + '"]');
+                var excludes = element.find('[class="' + phElement.attr('class') + '"]:not([ng-repeat], [data-ng-repeat])');
 
                 savedNodes = savedNodes.not(excludes);
               }
+
+              // save the directive's scope so that it is accessible from ui.item.sortable
+              var connectedSortables = ui.item.sortable._connectedSortables || [];
+
+              connectedSortables.push({
+                element: element,
+                scope: scope
+              });
+
+              ui.item.sortable._connectedSortables = connectedSortables;
             };
 
             callbacks.update = function(e, ui) {
@@ -165,8 +187,9 @@ angular.module('ui.sortable', [])
                 ui.item.sortable.dropindex = ui.item.index();
                 var droptarget = ui.item.parent();
                 ui.item.sortable.droptarget = droptarget;
-                var attr = droptarget.attr('ng-model') || droptarget.attr('data-ng-model');
-                ui.item.sortable.droptargetModel = droptarget.scope().$eval(attr);
+
+                var droptargetScope = getElementScope(ui.item.sortable._connectedSortables, droptarget);
+                ui.item.sortable.droptargetModel = droptargetScope.ngModel;
 
                 // Cancel the sort (let ng-repeat do the sort for us)
                 // Don't cancel if this is the received list because it has
diff --git a/test/sortable.e2e.callbacks.spec.js b/test/sortable.e2e.callbacks.spec.js
index 50b182b..ae4ceb5 100644
--- a/test/sortable.e2e.callbacks.spec.js
+++ b/test/sortable.e2e.callbacks.spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 describe('uiSortable', function() {
 
+  beforeEach(module(function($compileProvider) {
+    if (typeof $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled === 'function') {
+      $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled(false);
+    }
+  }));
+
   // Ensure the sortable angular module is loaded
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable'));
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable.testHelper'));
@@ -35,7 +41,7 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
         $rootScope.$apply(function() {
           $rootScope.opts = {
             update: function(e, ui) {
-              if (ui.item.scope().item === 'Two') {
+              if (ui.item.sortable.model === 'Two') {
                 ui.item.sortable.cancel();
               }
             }
@@ -77,7 +83,7 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
               return item;
             },
             update: function(e, ui) {
-              if (ui.item.scope().item === 'Two') {
+              if (ui.item.sortable.model === 'Two') {
                 ui.item.sortable.cancel();
               }
             }
@@ -117,7 +123,7 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
         $rootScope.$apply(function() {
           $rootScope.opts = {
             update: function(e, ui) {
-              $rootScope.logs.push('Moved element ' + ui.item.scope().item);
+              $rootScope.logs.push('Moved element ' + ui.item.sortable.model);
             }
           };
           $rootScope.items = ['One', 'Two', 'Three'];
@@ -148,7 +154,7 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
         $rootScope.$apply(function() {
           $rootScope.opts = {
             stop: function(e, ui) {
-              $rootScope.logs.push('Moved element ' + ui.item.scope().item);
+              $rootScope.logs.push('Moved element ' + ui.item.sortable.model);
             }
           };
           $rootScope.items = ['One', 'Two', 'Three'];
@@ -199,7 +205,7 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
         $rootScope.$apply(function() {
           $rootScope.opts = {
             update: function(e, ui) {
-              if (ui.item.scope().item === 'Two') {
+              if (ui.item.sortable.model === 'Two') {
                 ui.item.sortable.cancel();
               }
               updateCallbackExpectations(ui.item.sortable);
@@ -276,7 +282,7 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
               uiItemSortable_Destroy = ui.item.sortable._destroy;
             },
             update: function(e, ui) {
-              if (ui.item.scope().item === 'Two') {
+              if (ui.item.sortable.model === 'Two') {
                 ui.item.sortable.cancel();
               }
             }
diff --git a/test/sortable.e2e.directiveoptions.spec.js b/test/sortable.e2e.directiveoptions.spec.js
index bd2461c..9eba4b8 100644
--- a/test/sortable.e2e.directiveoptions.spec.js
+++ b/test/sortable.e2e.directiveoptions.spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 describe('uiSortable', function() {
 
+  beforeEach(module(function($compileProvider) {
+    if (typeof $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled === 'function') {
+      $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled(false);
+    }
+  }));
+
   // Ensure the sortable angular module is loaded
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable'));
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable.testHelper'));
diff --git a/test/sortable.e2e.directives.spec.js b/test/sortable.e2e.directives.spec.js
index 1c071a4..3292944 100644
--- a/test/sortable.e2e.directives.spec.js
+++ b/test/sortable.e2e.directives.spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 describe('uiSortable', function() {
 
+  beforeEach(module(function($compileProvider) {
+    if (typeof $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled === 'function') {
+      $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled(false);
+    }
+  }));
+
   // Ensure the sortable angular module is loaded
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable'));
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable.testHelper'));
diff --git a/test/sortable.e2e.multi.spec.js b/test/sortable.e2e.multi.spec.js
index efaed48..bf2c0e0 100644
--- a/test/sortable.e2e.multi.spec.js
+++ b/test/sortable.e2e.multi.spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 describe('uiSortable', function() {
 
+  beforeEach(module(function($compileProvider) {
+    if (typeof $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled === 'function') {
+      $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled(false);
+    }
+  }));
+
   // Ensure the sortable angular module is loaded
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable'));
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable.testHelper'));
@@ -68,14 +74,17 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
       inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
         var elementTop, elementBottom,
             wrapperTop, wrapperBottom,
+            wrapperTopScope, wrapperBottomScope,
             itemsTop, itemsBottom;
-        wrapperTop = $compile('<div ng-controller="dummyController"><ul ui-sortable="opts" class="cross-sortable" ng-model="itemsTop"><li ng-repeat="item in itemsTop" id="s-top-{{$index}}">{{ item }}</li></ul></div>')($rootScope);
-        wrapperBottom = $compile('<div ng-controller="dummyController"><ul ui-sortable="opts" class="cross-sortable" ng-model="itemsBottom"><li ng-repeat="item in itemsBottom" id="s-bottom-{{$index}}">{{ item }}</li></ul></div>')($rootScope);
+        wrapperTopScope = $rootScope.$new();
+        wrapperBottomScope = $rootScope.$new();
+        wrapperTop = $compile('<div ng-controller="dummyController"><ul ui-sortable="opts" class="cross-sortable" ng-model="itemsTop"><li ng-repeat="item in itemsTop" id="s-top-{{$index}}">{{ item }}</li></ul></div>')(wrapperTopScope);
+        wrapperBottom = $compile('<div ng-controller="dummyController"><ul ui-sortable="opts" class="cross-sortable" ng-model="itemsBottom"><li ng-repeat="item in itemsBottom" id="s-bottom-{{$index}}">{{ item }}</li></ul></div>')(wrapperBottomScope);
 
         host.append(wrapperTop).append(wrapperBottom).append('<div class="clear"></div>');
         $rootScope.$apply(function() {
-          wrapperTop.scope().itemsTop = itemsTop = ['Top One', 'Top Two', 'Top Three'];
-          wrapperBottom.scope().itemsBottom = itemsBottom = ['Bottom One', 'Bottom Two', 'Bottom Three'];
+          wrapperTopScope.itemsTop = itemsTop = ['Top One', 'Top Two', 'Top Three'];
+          wrapperBottomScope.itemsBottom = itemsBottom = ['Bottom One', 'Bottom Two', 'Bottom Three'];
           $rootScope.opts = { connectWith: '.cross-sortable' };
         });
 
@@ -462,9 +471,9 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
           $rootScope.opts = {
             connectWith: '.cross-sortable',
             update: function(e, ui) {
-              if (ui.item.scope() &&
-                (typeof ui.item.scope().item === 'string') &&
-                ui.item.scope().item.indexOf('Two') >= 0) {
+              if (ui.item.sortable.model &&
+                (typeof ui.item.sortable.model === 'string') &&
+                ui.item.sortable.model.indexOf('Two') >= 0) {
                 ui.item.sortable.cancel();
               }
             }
@@ -521,9 +530,9 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
           $rootScope.opts = {
             connectWith: '.cross-sortable',
             update: function(e, ui) {
-              if (ui.item.scope() &&
-                (typeof ui.item.scope().item === 'string') &&
-                ui.item.scope().item.indexOf('Two') >= 0) {
+              if (ui.item.sortable.model &&
+                (typeof ui.item.sortable.model === 'string') &&
+                ui.item.sortable.model.indexOf('Two') >= 0) {
                 ui.item.sortable.cancel();
               }
               updateCallbackExpectations(ui.item.sortable);
@@ -660,9 +669,9 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
           $rootScope.opts = {
             connectWith: '.cross-sortable',
             update: function(e, ui) {
-              if (ui.item.scope() &&
-                (typeof ui.item.scope().item === 'string') &&
-                ui.item.scope().item.indexOf('Two') >= 0) {
+              if (ui.item.sortable.model &&
+                (typeof ui.item.sortable.model === 'string') &&
+                ui.item.sortable.model.indexOf('Two') >= 0) {
                 ui.item.sortable.cancel();
               }
               updateCallbackExpectations(ui.item.sortable);
@@ -729,21 +738,24 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
       inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
         var elementTop, elementBottom,
             wrapperTop, wrapperBottom,
+            wrapperTopScope, wrapperBottomScope,
             itemsTop, itemsBottom,
             updateCallbackExpectations;
-        wrapperTop = $compile('<div ng-controller="dummyController"><ul ui-sortable="opts" class="cross-sortable" ng-model="itemsTop"><li ng-repeat="item in itemsTop" id="s-top-{{$index}}">{{ item }}</li></ul></div>')($rootScope);
-        wrapperBottom = $compile('<div ng-controller="dummyController"><ul ui-sortable="opts" class="cross-sortable" ng-model="itemsBottom"><li ng-repeat="item in itemsBottom" id="s-bottom-{{$index}}">{{ item }}</li></ul></div>')($rootScope);
+        wrapperTopScope = $rootScope.$new();
+        wrapperBottomScope = $rootScope.$new();
+        wrapperTop = $compile('<div ng-controller="dummyController"><ul ui-sortable="opts" class="cross-sortable" ng-model="itemsTop"><li ng-repeat="item in itemsTop" id="s-top-{{$index}}">{{ item }}</li></ul></div>')(wrapperTopScope);
+        wrapperBottom = $compile('<div ng-controller="dummyController"><ul ui-sortable="opts" class="cross-sortable" ng-model="itemsBottom"><li ng-repeat="item in itemsBottom" id="s-bottom-{{$index}}">{{ item }}</li></ul></div>')(wrapperBottomScope);
 
         host.append(wrapperTop).append(wrapperBottom).append('<div class="clear"></div>');
         $rootScope.$apply(function() {
-          wrapperTop.scope().itemsTop = itemsTop = ['Top One', 'Top Two', 'Top Three'];
-          wrapperBottom.scope().itemsBottom = itemsBottom = ['Bottom One', 'Bottom Two', 'Bottom Three'];
+          wrapperTopScope.itemsTop = itemsTop = ['Top One', 'Top Two', 'Top Three'];
+          wrapperBottomScope.itemsBottom = itemsBottom = ['Bottom One', 'Bottom Two', 'Bottom Three'];
           $rootScope.opts = {
             connectWith: '.cross-sortable',
             update: function(e, ui) {
-              if (ui.item.scope() &&
-                (typeof ui.item.scope().item === 'string') &&
-                ui.item.scope().item.indexOf('Two') >= 0) {
+              if (ui.item.sortable.model &&
+                (typeof ui.item.sortable.model === 'string') &&
+                ui.item.sortable.model.indexOf('Two') >= 0) {
                 ui.item.sortable.cancel();
               }
               updateCallbackExpectations(ui.item.sortable);
@@ -824,9 +836,9 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
             },
             update: function(e, ui) {
               uiItem.sortable = ui.item.sortable;
-              if (ui.item.scope() &&
-                (typeof ui.item.scope().item === 'string') &&
-                ui.item.scope().item.indexOf('Two') >= 0) {
+              if (ui.item.sortable.model &&
+                (typeof ui.item.sortable.model === 'string') &&
+                ui.item.sortable.model.indexOf('Two') >= 0) {
                 ui.item.sortable.cancel();
               }
             }
diff --git a/test/sortable.e2e.nested.spec.js b/test/sortable.e2e.nested.spec.js
index ba10be9..874ba8c 100644
--- a/test/sortable.e2e.nested.spec.js
+++ b/test/sortable.e2e.nested.spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 describe('uiSortable', function() {
 
+  beforeEach(module(function($compileProvider) {
+    if (typeof $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled === 'function') {
+      $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled(false);
+    }
+  }));
+
   // Ensure the sortable angular module is loaded
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable'));
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable.testHelper'));
diff --git a/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js b/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js
index 987a3e7..1be9306 100644
--- a/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js
+++ b/test/sortable.e2e.spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 describe('uiSortable', function() {
 
+  beforeEach(module(function($compileProvider) {
+    if (typeof $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled === 'function') {
+      $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled(false);
+    }
+  }));
+
   // Ensure the sortable angular module is loaded
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable'));
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable.testHelper'));
@@ -160,6 +166,35 @@ describe('uiSortable', function() {
       });
     });
 
+    it('should work when "placeholder" option equals the class of items [data-ng-repeat]', function() {
+      inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+        var element;
+        element = $compile('<ul ui-sortable="opts" ng-model="items"><li data-ng-repeat="item in items" id="s-{{$index}}" class="sortable-item">{{ item }}</li></ul>')($rootScope);
+        $rootScope.$apply(function() {
+          $rootScope.opts = {
+            placeholder: 'sortable-item'
+          };
+          $rootScope.items = ['One', 'Two', 'Three'];
+        });
+
+        host.append(element);
+
+        var li = element.find(':eq(1)');
+        var dy = (1 + EXTRA_DY_PERCENTAGE) * li.outerHeight();
+        li.simulate('drag', { dy: dy });
+        expect($rootScope.items).toEqual(['One', 'Three', 'Two']);
+        expect($rootScope.items).toEqual(listContent(element));
+
+        li = element.find(':eq(1)');
+        dy = -(1 + EXTRA_DY_PERCENTAGE) * li.outerHeight();
+        li.simulate('drag', { dy: dy });
+        expect($rootScope.items).toEqual(['Three', 'One', 'Two']);
+        expect($rootScope.items).toEqual(listContent(element));
+
+        $(element).remove();
+      });
+    });
+
     it('should continue to work after a drag is reverted', function() {
       inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
         var element;
diff --git a/test/sortable.spec.js b/test/sortable.spec.js
index ea99908..fd664bd 100644
--- a/test/sortable.spec.js
+++ b/test/sortable.spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 describe('uiSortable', function() {
 
+  beforeEach(module(function($compileProvider) {
+    if (typeof $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled === 'function') {
+      $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled(false);
+    }
+  }));
+
   // Ensure the sortable angular module is loaded
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable'));
   beforeEach(module('ui.sortable.testHelper'));