diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/router/hash_location_strategy.ts b/modules/angular2/src/router/hash_location_strategy.ts
index ffa4da7276..09c58516c0 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/router/hash_location_strategy.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/router/hash_location_strategy.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export class HashLocationStrategy extends LocationStrategy {
   path(): string {
     // the hash value is always prefixed with a `#`
     // and if it is empty then it will stay empty
-    return this._location.hash.substr(1);
+    return this._location.hash.substring(1);
   }
 
   pushState(state: any, title: string, url: string) {