diff --git a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
index 6b72f4a87628..64be7ba7f65a 100644
--- a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
+++ b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ angular.module('ngAnimate', ['ng'])
       }
 
       function animationsDisabled(element, parent) {
-        if(element == $rootElement) {
+        if(element[0] == $rootElement[0]) {
           return rootAnimateState.disabled || rootAnimateState.running;
         }
 
diff --git a/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js b/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
index bc0d334785e2..aba684b538b7 100644
--- a/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
+++ b/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
@@ -96,6 +96,11 @@ describe("ngAnimate", function() {
 
           $animate.addClass(elm2, 'klass2');
           expect(count).toBe(2);
+
+          var root = angular.element($rootElement[0]);
+          $rootElement.addClass('animated');
+          $animate.addClass(root, 'klass2');
+          expect(count).toBe(3);
         });
       });