diff --git a/platform/commonUI/general/src/directives/MCTScroll.js b/platform/commonUI/general/src/directives/MCTScroll.js
index 6436bd3dcc..c0f0dbfcc5 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/general/src/directives/MCTScroll.js
+++ b/platform/commonUI/general/src/directives/MCTScroll.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ define(
                 }
 
                 // Initialize state in scope
-                updateScope();
+                parsed.assign(scope, element[0][property]);
 
                 // Update element state when value in scope changes
                 scope.$watch(expr, updateElement);
diff --git a/platform/commonUI/general/test/directives/MCTScrollSpec.js b/platform/commonUI/general/test/directives/MCTScrollSpec.js
index 200c418798..bf55d90aca 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/general/test/directives/MCTScrollSpec.js
+++ b/platform/commonUI/general/test/directives/MCTScrollSpec.js
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ define(
                 expect(mockScope.$apply).toHaveBeenCalledWith(EXPRESSION);
             });
 
+            // This would trigger an infinite digest exception
+            it("does not call $apply during construction", function () {
+                expect(mockScope.$apply).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+            });
+
         });
     }
 );
\ No newline at end of file