diff --git a/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.js b/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.js
index a78445bc..7caa3224 100644
--- a/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.js
+++ b/js/jquery.mobile.forms.select.js
@@ -199,6 +199,11 @@ $.widget( "mobile.selectmenu", $.mobile.widget, {
 		this.setButtonCount();
 	},
 
+	// open and close preserved in native selects
+	// to simplify users code when looping over selects
+	open: $.noop,
+	close: $.noop,
+
 	disable: function() {
 		this._setDisabled( true );
 		this.button.addClass( "ui-disabled" );