diff --git a/js/jquery.mobile.navigation.js b/js/jquery.mobile.navigation.js
index 6a32b5c8..6431ba64 100644
--- a/js/jquery.mobile.navigation.js
+++ b/js/jquery.mobile.navigation.js
@@ -1068,7 +1068,8 @@
 			var link = findClosestLink( event.target );
 			if ( link ) {
 				if ( path.parseUrl( link.getAttribute( "href" ) || "#" ).hash !== "#" ) {
-					$( link ).closest( ".ui-btn" ).not( ".ui-disabled" ).addClass( $.mobile.activeBtnClass );
+					$activeClickedLink = $( link ).closest( ".ui-btn" ).not( ".ui-disabled" );
+					$activeClickedLink.addClass( $.mobile.activeBtnClass );
 					$( "." + $.mobile.activePageClass + " .ui-btn" ).not( link ).blur();
 				}
 			}
@@ -1146,8 +1147,6 @@
 				//     moved into more comprehensive isExternalLink
 				isExternal = useDefaultUrlHandling || ( path.isExternal( href ) && !isCrossDomainPageLoad );
 
-			$activeClickedLink = $link.closest( ".ui-btn" );
-
 			if( isExternal ) {
 				httpCleanup();
 				//use default click handling