diff --git a/core/block_dragger.js b/core/block_dragger.js
index 051b2a6d8..dd1feba98 100644
--- a/core/block_dragger.js
+++ b/core/block_dragger.js
@@ -144,9 +144,10 @@ Blockly.BlockDragger.initIconData_ = function(block) {
  * Start dragging a block.  This includes moving it to the drag surface.
  * @param {!goog.math.Coordinate} currentDragDeltaXY How far the pointer has
  *     moved from the position at mouse down, in pixel units.
+ * @param {boolean} healStack whether or not to heal the stack after disconnecting
  * @package
  */
-Blockly.BlockDragger.prototype.startBlockDrag = function(currentDragDeltaXY) {
+Blockly.BlockDragger.prototype.startBlockDrag = function(currentDragDeltaXY, healStack) {
   if (!Blockly.Events.getGroup()) {
     Blockly.Events.setGroup(true);
   }
@@ -154,8 +155,10 @@ Blockly.BlockDragger.prototype.startBlockDrag = function(currentDragDeltaXY) {
   this.workspace_.setResizesEnabled(false);
   Blockly.BlockSvg.disconnectUiStop_();
 
-  if (this.draggingBlock_.getParent()) {
-    this.draggingBlock_.unplug();
+  if (this.draggingBlock_.getParent() ||
+      (healStack && this.draggingBlock_.nextConnection &&
+      this.draggingBlock_.nextConnection.targetBlock())) {
+    this.draggingBlock_.unplug(healStack);
     var delta = this.pixelsToWorkspaceUnits_(currentDragDeltaXY);
     var newLoc = goog.math.Coordinate.sum(this.startXY_, delta);
 
diff --git a/core/gesture.js b/core/gesture.js
index 26e85ada9..070e94ac7 100644
--- a/core/gesture.js
+++ b/core/gesture.js
@@ -225,6 +225,14 @@ Blockly.Gesture = function(e, creatorWorkspace) {
    * @private
    */
   this.isEnding_ = false;
+
+  /**
+   * Boolean used to indicate whether or not to heal the stack after
+   * disconnecting a block.
+   * @type {boolean}
+   * @private
+   */
+  this.healStack_ = !Blockly.DRAG_STACK;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -443,7 +451,7 @@ Blockly.Gesture.prototype.updateIsDragging_ = function() {
 Blockly.Gesture.prototype.startDraggingBlock_ = function() {
   this.blockDragger_ = new Blockly.BlockDragger(this.targetBlock_,
       this.startWorkspace_);
-  this.blockDragger_.startBlockDrag(this.currentDragDeltaXY_);
+  this.blockDragger_.startBlockDrag(this.currentDragDeltaXY_, this.healStack_);
   this.blockDragger_.dragBlock(this.mostRecentEvent_,
       this.currentDragDeltaXY_);
 };
@@ -503,6 +511,7 @@ Blockly.Gesture.prototype.doStart = function(e) {
   }
 
   this.mouseDownXY_ = new goog.math.Coordinate(e.clientX, e.clientY);
+  this.healStack_ = e.altKey || e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey;
 
   this.bindMouseEvents(e);
 };