diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/common/directives/components/umbgroupsbuilder.directive.js b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/common/directives/components/umbgroupsbuilder.directive.js
index 662c86de08..b1d3ff73b0 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/common/directives/components/umbgroupsbuilder.directive.js
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/common/directives/components/umbgroupsbuilder.directive.js
@@ -577,12 +577,17 @@
       }
 
 
-      scope.$watch('model', function(newValue, oldValue) {
+      var unbindModelWatcher = scope.$watch('model', function(newValue, oldValue) {
         if (newValue !== undefined && newValue.groups !== undefined) {
           activate();
         }
       });
 
+      // clean up
+      scope.$on('$destroy', function(){
+        unbindModelWatcher();
+      });
+
     }
 
     var directive = {