diff --git a/js/jquery.mobile.core.js b/js/jquery.mobile.core.js
index e8f2faca..5807dac0 100644
--- a/js/jquery.mobile.core.js
+++ b/js/jquery.mobile.core.js
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@
 
 		pushStateEnabled: true,
 
+		// turn of binding to the native orientationchange due to android orientation behavior
+		orientationChangeEnabled: true,
+
 		// Support conditions that must be met in order to proceed
 		// default enhanced qualifications are media query support OR IE 7+
 		gradeA: function(){
diff --git a/js/jquery.mobile.event.js b/js/jquery.mobile.event.js
index d0e105f5..8d2d5247 100644
--- a/js/jquery.mobile.event.js
+++ b/js/jquery.mobile.event.js
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ $.event.special.swipe = {
 		setup: function() {
 			// If the event is supported natively, return false so that jQuery
 			// will bind to the event using DOM methods.
-			if ( $.support.orientation ) {
+			if ( $.support.orientation && $.mobile.orientationChangeEnabled ) {
 				return false;
 			}
 
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ $.event.special.swipe = {
 		teardown: function(){
 			// If the event is not supported natively, return false so that
 			// jQuery will unbind the event using DOM methods.
-			if ( $.support.orientation ) {
+			if ( $.support.orientation && $.mobile.orientationChangeEnabled ) {
 				return false;
 			}
 
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ $.event.special.swipe = {
 			// Save a reference to the bound event handler.
 			var old_handler = handleObj.handler;
 
+
 			handleObj.handler = function( event ) {
 				// Modify event object, adding the .orientation property.
 				event.orientation = get_orientation();