diff --git a/js/jquery.mobile.core.js b/js/jquery.mobile.core.js
index cf2c52c0..e8f2faca 100644
--- a/js/jquery.mobile.core.js
+++ b/js/jquery.mobile.core.js
@@ -172,6 +172,13 @@
 		$(elem).jqmData( 'dependents', $.merge(dependents, newDependents) );
 	};
 
+	// note that this helper doesn't attempt to handle the callback
+	// or setting of an html elements text, its only purpose is
+	// to return the html encoded version of the text in all cases. (thus the name)
+	$.fn.getEncodedText = function() {
+		return $( "<div/>" ).text( $(this).text() ).html();
+	};
+
 	// Monkey-patching Sizzle to filter the :jqmData selector
 	var oldFind = $.find;
 
diff --git a/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.custom.js b/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.custom.js
index 12054d8c..0a54f134 100644
--- a/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.custom.js
+++ b/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.custom.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 			menuId = selectID + "-menu",
 			menuPage = $( "<div data-" + $.mobile.ns + "role='dialog' data-" +$.mobile.ns + "theme='"+ widget.options.menuPageTheme +"'>" +
 				"<div data-" + $.mobile.ns + "role='header'>" +
-				"<div class='ui-title'>" + label.text() + "</div>"+
+				"<div class='ui-title'>" + label.getEncodedText() + "</div>"+
 				"</div>"+
 				"<div data-" + $.mobile.ns + "role='content'></div>"+
 				"</div>" ).appendTo( $.mobile.pageContainer ).page(),
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@
 				self.select.find( "option" ).each( function( i ) {
 					var $this = $( this ),
 						$parent = $this.parent(),
-						text = $this.text(),
+						text = $this.getEncodedText(),
 						anchor = "<a href='#'>"+ text +"</a>",
 						classes = [],
 						extraAttrs = [];