diff --git a/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js b/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js
index 628b476..e3f4e84 100644
--- a/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js
+++ b/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js
@@ -373,4 +373,16 @@ describe('Autocomplete', function () {
         expect(input.data('autocomplete')).toBeUndefined();
         expect(div.children().length).toBe(0);
     });
+
+    it('Should return Autocomplete instance if called without arguments', function () {
+        var input = $(document.createElement('input'));
+
+        input.autocomplete({
+            serviceUrl: '/test-dispose'
+        });
+
+        var instance = input.autocomplete();
+
+        expect(instance instanceof $.Autocomplete).toBe(true);
+    });
 });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/jquery.autocomplete.js b/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
index 5813b69..527ad9b 100644
--- a/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
+++ b/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
@@ -600,8 +600,8 @@
 
             return currentValue.substr(0, currentValue.length - parts[parts.length - 1].length) + value;
         },
-        
-        dispose: function() {
+
+        dispose: function () {
             var that = this;
             that.el.off('.autocomplete').removeData('autocomplete');
             that.disableKillerFn();
@@ -611,9 +611,15 @@
 
     // Create chainable jQuery plugin:
     $.fn.autocomplete = function (options, args) {
+        var dataKey = 'autocomplete';
+        // If function invoked without argument return
+        // instance of the first matched element:
+        if (arguments.length === 0) {
+            return this.first().data(dataKey);
+        }
+
         return this.each(function () {
-            var dataKey = 'autocomplete',
-                inputElement = $(this),
+            var inputElement = $(this),
                 instance = inputElement.data(dataKey);
 
             if (typeof options === 'string') {