diff --git a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
index 7c6a59d7be7e..f335f3cf17dd 100644
--- a/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
+++ b/src/ngAnimate/animate.js
@@ -1869,7 +1869,7 @@ angular.module('ngAnimate', ['ng'])
           return;
         }
 
-        if (!staggerTime && styles) {
+        if (!staggerTime && styles && Object.keys(styles).length > 0) {
           if (!timings.transitionDuration) {
             element.css('transition', timings.animationDuration + 's linear all');
             appliedStyles.push('transition');
diff --git a/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js b/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
index 9103d7bef7f4..be5a1b59e27e 100644
--- a/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
+++ b/test/ngAnimate/animateSpec.js
@@ -1381,6 +1381,25 @@ describe("ngAnimate", function() {
             expect(element.attr('style')).toContain('border-color: blue');
           }));
 
+          it("should not apply a piggy-back-transition if the styles object contains no styles",
+            inject(function($compile, $animate, $rootScope, $sniffer) {
+
+            if (!$sniffer.animations) return;
+
+            $animate.enabled(true);
+            ss.addRule('.on', '-webkit-animation: 1s super-animation; animation: 1s super-animation;');
+
+            element = $compile(html('<div>1</div>'))($rootScope);
+
+            $animate.addClass(element, 'on', {
+              to: {}
+            });
+
+            $rootScope.$digest();
+            $animate.triggerReflow();
+            expect(element.attr('style')).not.toMatch(/transition/);
+          }));
+
           it("should pause the playstate when performing a stagger animation",
             inject(function($animate, $rootScope, $compile, $sniffer, $timeout) {