$ionicPopup: e.preventDefault() gets ignored

I'm using the following code for some validation stuff using both $ionicPopup and Firebase:

onTap: function(e) {
    firebase.auth().applyActionCode($scope.data.emailcnfrm)
        .then(function() {
            return $scope.data.emailcnfrm;
        },
        function(error) {   
            alert("wrong code");
            e.preventDefault();
        });
}

But In the case of error, and after I get the "wrong code" alert, the popup gets closed, as e.preventDefault(); has been ignored.

So what's exactly wrong in my code? and how can I fix this problem?

Finally I solved the problem by using my own trick:

-outside Async:

         $scope.myPopup = $ionicPopup.show({

             scope: $scope, buttons: [

             { text: 'Cancel' },

             {                  
                 text: '<b>Done</b>',

                 type: 'button-positive',

                 onTap: function(e)
                 {

                 // always keep the popup open, because we'll decide when to close it later
                 e.preventDefault();

                 $AsyncCallback();
                 }
             }
             ]
         });

$scope.myPopup.then(function(){},
                             function(error)
                             {
                                 $ionicPopup.alert({

                                 title: 'Internal error!',

                                 template: error
                                 });
                             });

-inside async:

$scope.myPopup.close();