diff --git a/lib/select.js b/lib/select.js
index 404fa6f..ecde9bf 100644
--- a/lib/select.js
+++ b/lib/select.js
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ Select = (function(superClass) {
     var idx, it, items, j, len, results1;
     Select._tpl.select = "<div class=\"simple-select\">\n  <span class=\"link-expand\" title=\"" + (this._t('all_options')) + "\">\n    <i class=\"icon-caret-down\"><span>&#9662;</span></i>\n  </span>\n  <span class=\"link-clear\" title=\"" + (this._t('clear_selection')) + "\">\n    <i class=\"icon-delete\"><span>&#10005;</span></i>\n  </span>\n  <div class=\"select-list\">\n    <div class=\"loading\">" + (this._t('loading')) + "...</div>\n  </div>\n</div>";
     this.el = $(this.opts.el).hide();
+    this.el.data("select", this);
     this.select = $(Select._tpl.select).data("select", this).addClass(this.opts.cls).insertBefore(this.el);
     this.input = $(Select._tpl.input).attr("placeholder", this.el.data("placeholder") || this.opts.placeholder).prependTo(this.select);
     this.list = this.select.find(".select-list");
diff --git a/spec/select-spec.coffee b/spec/select-spec.coffee
index c312709..0329323 100644
--- a/spec/select-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/select-spec.coffee
@@ -149,3 +149,12 @@ describe 'Simple Select', ->
     expect(select.requireSelect).toBe(false)
     expect(select.el.val()).toBe('')
 
+  it "keep reference in el", ->
+    selectEl.appendTo("body")
+    select = simple.select
+      el: $("#select-one")
+
+    expect(selectEl.data('select')).toBe(select)
+
+    
+
diff --git a/spec/select-spec.js b/spec/select-spec.js
index b6a16f6..a4fd997 100644
--- a/spec/select-spec.js
+++ b/spec/select-spec.js
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@
       select.input.blur();
       return expect(select.el.val()).toBe('0');
     });
-    return it('should always select default value if one option without value', function() {
+    it('should always select default value if one option without value', function() {
       var select;
       selectEl.append('<option value></option>');
       selectEl.appendTo("body");
@@ -152,6 +152,14 @@
       expect(select.requireSelect).toBe(false);
       return expect(select.el.val()).toBe('');
     });
+    return it("keep reference in el", function() {
+      var select;
+      selectEl.appendTo("body");
+      select = simple.select({
+        el: $("#select-one")
+      });
+      return expect(selectEl.data('select')).toBe(select);
+    });
   });
 
 }).call(this);
diff --git a/src/select.coffee b/src/select.coffee
index ba11dcb..64bf102 100644
--- a/src/select.coffee
+++ b/src/select.coffee
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class Select extends SimpleModule
     """
 
     @el = $(@opts.el).hide()
+    @el.data("select", @)
     @select = $(Select._tpl.select)
       .data("select", @)
       .addClass(@opts.cls)