diff --git a/js/jquery.mobile.widget.js b/js/jquery.mobile.widget.js
index f84ac353..471f8920 100644
--- a/js/jquery.mobile.widget.js
+++ b/js/jquery.mobile.widget.js
@@ -42,9 +42,12 @@ $.widget( "mobile.widget", {
 		// TODO remove dependency on the page widget for the keepNative.
 		// Currently the keepNative value is defined on the page prototype so
 		// the method is as well
-		var page = $(target).closest(":jqmData(role='page')").data( "page" );
+		var page = $(target).closest(":jqmData(role='page')").data( "page" ),
+			keepNative = (page && page.keepNativeSelector()) || "";
 
-		$( this.options.initSelector, target ).not( page.keepNativeSelector() || "" )[ this.widgetName ]();
+
+
+		$( this.options.initSelector, target ).not( keepNative )[ this.widgetName ]();
 	}
 });