diff --git a/modal.js b/modal.js
index 6c295df..fe678ed 100644
--- a/modal.js
+++ b/modal.js
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ factory('btfModal', function ($animate, $compile, $rootScope, $controller, $q, $
     var template      = config.template,
         controller    = config.controller || angular.noop,
         controllerAs  = config.controllerAs,
-        container     = angular.element(config.container || document.body),
         element       = null,
+        container     = angular.element(document.body),
         html,
         scope;
 
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ factory('btfModal', function ($animate, $compile, $rootScope, $controller, $q, $
       if (element.length === 0) {
         throw new Error('The template contains no elements; you need to wrap text nodes')
       }
+      if (config.container) {
+        container = angular.element(config.container);
+      }
       $animate.enter(element, container);
       scope = $rootScope.$new();
       if (locals) {