diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 9ea8538..5dbca12 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ The standard jquery.autocomplete.js file is around 2.7KB when minified via Closu
         * `orientation`: Default `bottom`. Vertical orientation of the displayed suggestions, available values are `auto`, `top`, `bottom`.
           If set to `auto`, the suggestions will be orientated it the way that place them closer to middle of the view port.
         * `groupBy`: property name of the suggestion `data` object, by which results should be grouped.
+        * `preserveInput`: if `true`, input value stays the same when navigating over suggestions. Default: `false`.
 
 Autocomplete instance has following methods:
 
diff --git a/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js b/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js
index 2b9f9bc..2a23f97 100644
--- a/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js
+++ b/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*jslint vars: true*/
+/*jslint vars: true*/
 /*global describe, it, expect, waits, waitsFor, runs, afterEach, spyOn, $*/
 
 describe('Autocomplete Async', function(){
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ describe('Autocomplete Async', function(){
     });
 });
 
-describe('Autocomplete Async', function() {
+describe('Autocomplete Async', function () {
     var input = document.createElement('input'),
         completeQuery,
         mockupSuggestion = { value: 'A', data: 'A' },
@@ -688,3 +688,47 @@ describe('Autocomplete', function () {
     });
 
 });
+
+describe('When options.preserveInput is true', function() {
+   var input = $('<input />'),
+       instance,
+       suggestionData = null;
+
+   beforeEach(function() {
+       input.autocomplete({
+           lookup: [{ value: 'Jamaica', data: 'J' }, { value: 'Jamaica2', data: 'J' }, { value: 'Jamaica3', data: 'J' }],
+           preserveInput: true,
+           onSelect: function (suggestion) {
+               suggestionData = suggestion.data;
+           }
+       });
+
+       input.val('J');
+       instance = input.autocomplete();
+   });
+    
+    afterEach(function() {
+        instance.dispose();
+    });
+
+   it('Should NOT change input value when item is selected', function() {
+       instance.onValueChange();
+       instance.select(0);
+
+       expect(input.val()).toEqual('J');
+   });
+
+   it('Should NOT change input value when move down', function() {
+       instance.onValueChange();
+       instance.moveDown();
+
+       expect(input.val()).toEqual('J');
+   });
+
+   it('Should NOT change input value when move up', function() {
+       instance.onValueChange();
+       instance.moveUp();
+
+       expect(input.val()).toEqual('J');
+   });
+});
diff --git a/src/jquery.autocomplete.js b/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
index 8be9a27..e1d9622 100644
--- a/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
+++ b/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@
                 onSearchStart: noop,
                 onSearchComplete: noop,
                 onSearchError: noop,
+                preserveInput: false,
                 containerClass: 'autocomplete-suggestions',
                 tabDisabled: false,
                 dataType: 'text',
@@ -890,7 +891,9 @@
                 $(that.suggestionsContainer).scrollTop(offsetTop - that.options.maxHeight + heightDelta);
             }
 
-            that.el.val(that.getValue(that.suggestions[index].value));
+            if (!that.options.preserveInput) {
+                that.el.val(that.getValue(that.suggestions[index].value));
+            }
             that.signalHint(null);
         },
 
@@ -901,7 +904,7 @@
 
             that.currentValue = that.getValue(suggestion.value);
 
-            if (that.currentValue !== that.el.val()) {
+            if (that.currentValue !== that.el.val() && !that.options.preserveInput) {
                 that.el.val(that.currentValue);
             }