diff --git a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
index 1492576ede01..45549cad60a7 100644
--- a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
+++ b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
@@ -549,6 +549,7 @@ angular.module('ngAnimate', ['ng'])
       }
 
       function resolveElementClasses(element, cache, runningAnimations) {
+        if (!cache || !cache.classes) return;
         runningAnimations = runningAnimations || {};
 
         var lookup = {};