diff --git a/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js b/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
index 9180072e3..1c8589841 100644
--- a/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
+++ b/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
@@ -1203,6 +1203,12 @@ test( "._trigger() - instance as element", function() {
 		});
 	});
 
+	test( "auto-destroy - .remove() when disabled", function() {
+		shouldDestroy( true, function() {
+			$( "#widget" ).testWidget({ disabled: true }).remove();
+		});
+	});
+
 	test( "auto-destroy - .remove() on parent", function() {
 		shouldDestroy( true, function() {
 			$( "#widget" ).testWidget().parent().remove();
diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
index 0ad634dfd..333212f0a 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ $.Widget.prototype = {
 			// TODO remove dual storage
 			$.data( element, this.widgetName, this );
 			$.data( element, this.widgetFullName, this );
-			this._on( this.element, {
+			this._on( true, this.element, {
 				remove: function( event ) {
 					if ( event.target === element ) {
 						this.destroy();