diff --git a/js/jquery.mobile.navigation.js b/js/jquery.mobile.navigation.js
index 0bb6cd49..a3926d81 100644
--- a/js/jquery.mobile.navigation.js
+++ b/js/jquery.mobile.navigation.js
@@ -960,14 +960,25 @@
 			return;
 		}
 
-		var $link = $( link );
+		var $link = $( link ),
+			//remove active link class if external (then it won't be there if you come back)
+			httpCleanup = function(){
+				window.setTimeout( function() { removeActiveLinkClass( true ); }, 200 );
+			};
 
 		//if there's a data-rel=back attr, go back in history
 		if( $link.is( ":jqmData(rel='back')" ) ) {
 			window.history.back();
 			return false;
 		}
-
+		
+		//if ajax is disabled, exit early
+		if( !$.mobile.ajaxEnabled ){
+			httpCleanup();
+			//use default click handling
+			return;
+		}
+		
 		var baseUrl = getClosestBaseUrl( $link ),
 
 			//get href, if defined, otherwise default to empty hash
@@ -1016,10 +1027,8 @@
 
 		$activeClickedLink = $link.closest( ".ui-btn" );
 
-		if( isExternal || !$.mobile.ajaxEnabled ) {
-			//remove active link class if external (then it won't be there if you come back)
-			window.setTimeout( function() { removeActiveLinkClass( true ); }, 200 );
-
+		if( isExternal ) {
+			httpCleanup();
 			//use default click handling
 			return;
 		}