diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 5d1e7e1..edd545b 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ The standard jquery.autocomplete.js file is around 2.7KB when minified via Closu
         * `tabDisabled`: Default `false`. Set to true to leave the cursor in the input field after the user tabs to select a suggestion.
         * `paramName`: Default `query`. The name of the request parameter that contains the query.
         * `transformResult`: `function(response) {}` called after the result of the query is ready. Converts the result into response.suggestions format.
+		* `autoSelectFirst`: if set to `true`, first item will be selected when showing suggestions. Default value `false`.
 ##Usage
 
 Html:
diff --git a/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js b/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js
index 62e9e07..9ab5ef6 100644
--- a/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js
+++ b/spec/autocompleteBehavior.js
@@ -142,7 +142,8 @@ describe('Autocomplete', function () {
         var input = document.createElement('input'),
             autocomplete = new $.Autocomplete(input, {
                 lookup: [{ value: 'Jamaica', data: 'B' }],
-                tabDisabled: false
+                tabDisabled: false,
+                autoSelectFirst: true
             });
         input.value = 'Jam';
         autocomplete.onValueChange();
@@ -168,7 +169,8 @@ describe('Autocomplete', function () {
         var input = document.createElement('input'),
             autocomplete = new $.Autocomplete(input, {
                 lookup: [{ value: 'Jamaica', data: 'B' }],
-                tabDisabled: true
+                tabDisabled: true,
+                autoSelectFirst: true
             });
         input.value = 'Jam';
         autocomplete.onValueChange();
@@ -189,4 +191,29 @@ describe('Autocomplete', function () {
         expect(event.preventDefault).toHaveBeenCalled();
         expect(autocomplete.suggest).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
+
+    it('Should not autoselect first item by default', function () {
+        var input = document.createElement('input'),
+            autocomplete = new $.Autocomplete(input, {
+                lookup: ['Jamaica', 'Jamaica', 'Jamaica']
+            });
+
+        input.value = 'Jam';
+        autocomplete.onValueChange();
+
+        expect(autocomplete.selectedIndex).toBe(-1);
+    });
+
+    it('Should autoselect first item autoSelectFirst set to true', function () {
+        var input = document.createElement('input'),
+            autocomplete = new $.Autocomplete(input, {
+                lookup: ['Jamaica', 'Jamaica', 'Jamaica'],
+                autoSelectFirst: true
+            });
+
+        input.value = 'Jam';
+        autocomplete.onValueChange();
+
+        expect(autocomplete.selectedIndex).toBe(0);
+    });
 });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/jquery.autocomplete.js b/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
index 99e2957..7b6be77 100644
--- a/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
+++ b/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
         var noop = function () { },
             that = this,
             defaults = {
+                autoSelectFirst: false,
                 serviceUrl: null,
                 lookup: null,
                 onSelect: null,
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@
                     return suggestion.value.toLowerCase().indexOf(queryLowerCase) !== -1;
                 },
                 paramName: 'query',
-                transformResult: function(response) {
+                transformResult: function (response) {
                     return response.suggestions;
                 }
             };
@@ -439,8 +440,10 @@
             that.visible = true;
 
             // Select first value by default:
-            that.selectedIndex = 0;
-            container.children().first().addClass(classSelected);
+            if (that.options.autoSelectFirst) {
+                that.selectedIndex = 0;
+                container.children().first().addClass(classSelected);
+            }
         },
 
         verifySuggestionsFormat: function (suggestions) {