diff --git a/backbone.js b/backbone.js
index afd37537c..0d4c1b74e 100644
--- a/backbone.js
+++ b/backbone.js
@@ -601,9 +601,9 @@
       // `set(attr).save(null, opts)` with validation. Otherwise, check if
       // the model will be valid when the attributes, if any, are set.
       if (attrs && !wait) {
-        if (!this.set(attrs, options)) return false;
+        if (!this.set(attrs, options)) return Backbone.Promise.reject(this.validationError);
       } else {
-        if (!this._validate(attrs, options)) return false;
+        if (!this._validate(attrs, options)) return Backbone.Promise.reject(this.validationError);
       }
 
       // After a successful server-side save, the client is (optionally)
@@ -639,7 +639,7 @@
     // Optimistically removes the model from its collection, if it has one.
     // If `wait: true` is passed, waits for the server to respond before removal.
     destroy: function(options) {
-      options = options ? _.clone(options) : {};
+      options = _.extend({}, options);
       var model = this;
       var success = options.success;
       var wait = options.wait;
@@ -655,9 +655,9 @@
         if (!model.isNew()) model.trigger('sync', model, resp, options);
       };
 
-      var xhr = false;
+      var xhr;
       if (this.isNew()) {
-        _.defer(options.success);
+        xhr = Backbone.Promise.resolve().then(options.success);
       } else {
         wrapError(this, options);
         xhr = this.sync('delete', this, options);
@@ -1408,6 +1408,31 @@
     return Backbone.$.ajax.apply(Backbone.$, arguments);
   };
 
+  // A psuedo Promise implementation used to ensure asynchronous methods
+  // return thenables.
+  // Override this if you'd like to use a different ES6 library.
+  Backbone.Promise = function() {
+    throw new Error('Backbone does not provide a spec compliant Promise by default.');
+  };
+
+  _.extend(Backbone.Promise, {
+    // A wrapper around jQuery's normal resolve to force it to adopt a
+    // thenable's state, and execute then callbacks asynchronously.
+    resolve: function(value) {
+      var deferred = Backbone.$.Deferred();
+      _.defer(deferred.resolve);
+      return deferred.promise().then(_.constant(value));
+    },
+
+    // A wrapper around jQuery's normal reject to force it to execute
+    // then callbacks asynchronously.
+    reject: function(reason) {
+      var deferred = Backbone.$.Deferred();
+      _.defer(deferred.reject, reason);
+      return deferred.promise();
+    }
+  });
+
   // Backbone.Router
   // ---------------
 
diff --git a/test/index.html b/test/index.html
index 3dad8c679..1deab47a3 100644
--- a/test/index.html
+++ b/test/index.html
@@ -20,5 +20,6 @@
   <script src="router.js"></script>
   <script src="view.js"></script>
   <script src="sync.js"></script>
+  <script src="promise.js"></script>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/test/model.js b/test/model.js
index faaf61dda..de7197835 100644
--- a/test/model.js
+++ b/test/model.js
@@ -662,13 +662,19 @@
     this.ajaxSettings.success();
   });
 
-  test("destroy", 3, function() {
+  asyncTest("destroy", 3, function() {
     doc.destroy();
     equal(this.syncArgs.method, 'delete');
     ok(_.isEqual(this.syncArgs.model, doc));
 
     var newModel = new Backbone.Model;
-    equal(newModel.destroy(), false);
+    var promise = newModel.destroy();
+    var async = false;
+    promise.then(function() {
+      ok(async, 'then chains asynchronously');
+      start();
+    });
+    async = true;
   });
 
   test("destroy will pass extra options to success callback", 1, function () {
@@ -1156,11 +1162,18 @@
     }});
   });
 
-  test("#1433 - Save: An invalid model cannot be persisted.", 1, function() {
+  asyncTest("#1433 - Save: An invalid model cannot be persisted.", 2, function() {
     var model = new Backbone.Model;
-    model.validate = function(){ return 'invalid'; };
+    model.validate = function(){ return { error: 'invalid' }; };
     model.sync = function(){ ok(false); };
-    strictEqual(model.save(), false);
+    var promise = model.save();
+    var async = false;
+    promise.then(null, function(reason) {
+      strictEqual(reason, model.validationError, 'passes error to onRejected');
+      ok(async, 'then chains asynchronously');
+      start();
+    })
+    async = true;
   });
 
   test("#1377 - Save without attrs triggers 'error'.", 1, function() {
diff --git a/test/promise.js b/test/promise.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e28e0bf29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/promise.js
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+(function() {
+
+  module("Backbone.Promise");
+
+  test("throws an error if invoked", 1, function() {
+    try {
+      Backbone.Promise();
+    } catch (e) {
+      ok(e);
+    }
+  });
+
+  asyncTest(".resolve to passed in value", 1, function() {
+    var value = {};
+    Backbone.Promise.resolve({}).then(function(val) {
+      strictEqual(val, value);
+      start();
+    });
+  });
+
+  asyncTest(".resolve adopts promise state", 1, function() {
+    var value = {};
+    var promise = Backbone.Promise.resolve(val);
+    Backbone.Promise.resolve(promise).then(function(val) {
+      strictEqual(val, value);
+      start();
+    });
+  });
+
+  asyncTest(".resolve executes then callback asynchronously", 1, function() {
+    var async = false;
+    Backbone.Promise.resolve().then(function() {
+      ok(async);
+      start();
+    });
+    async = true;
+  });
+
+  asyncTest(".reject to passed in value", 1, function() {
+    var value = {};
+    Backbone.Promise.reject({}).then(null, function(val) {
+      strictEqual(val, value);
+      start();
+    });
+  });
+
+  asyncTest(".reject executes then callback asynchronously", 1, function() {
+    var async = false;
+    Backbone.Promise.reject().then(null, function() {
+      ok(async);
+      start();
+    });
+    async = true;
+  });
+
+});