diff --git a/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.js b/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.js
index e899f989..23b1c932 100644
--- a/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.js
+++ b/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.js
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ $.widget( "mobile.selectmenu", $.mobile.widget, {
 		nativeMenu: false
 	},
 	_create: function(){
-
+		
 		var self = this,
 
 			o = this.options,
@@ -33,7 +33,12 @@ $.widget( "mobile.selectmenu", $.mobile.widget, {
 			selectID = select.attr( "id" ),
 
 			label = $( "label[for="+ selectID +"]" ).addClass( "ui-select" ),
-
+			
+			//IE throws an exception at options.item() function when
+			//there is no selected item
+			//select first in this case 
+			selectedIndex = select[0].selectedIndex == -1 ? 0 : select[0].selectedIndex,
+			
 			button = ( self.options.nativeMenu ? $( "<div/>" ) : $( "<a>", {
 					"href": "#",
 					"role": "button",
@@ -41,7 +46,7 @@ $.widget( "mobile.selectmenu", $.mobile.widget, {
 					"aria-haspopup": "true",
 					"aria-owns": menuId
 				}) )
-				.text( $( select[0].options.item(select[0].selectedIndex) ).text() )
+				.text( $( select[0].options.item( selectedIndex ) ).text() )
 				.insertBefore( select )
 				.buttonMarkup({
 					theme: o.theme,