diff --git a/src/uiSelectDirective.js b/src/uiSelectDirective.js
index 00fe1aa28..fc2df8846 100644
--- a/src/uiSelectDirective.js
+++ b/src/uiSelectDirective.js
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ uis.directive('uiSelect',
             };
             if (!inputValue) return resultMultiple; //If ngModel was undefined
             for (var k = inputValue.length - 1; k >= 0; k--) {
-              if (!checkFnMultiple($select.selected, inputValue[k])){
+              if (!$select.selected || !$select.selected.length || !checkFnMultiple($select.selected, inputValue[k])){
                 checkFnMultiple(data, inputValue[k]);
               }
             }
diff --git a/test/select.spec.js b/test/select.spec.js
index 8be66afa8..f5481cfac 100644
--- a/test/select.spec.js
+++ b/test/select.spec.js
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ describe('ui-select tests', function() {
 
     expect(getMatchLabel(el)).toEqual('Adam');
   });
-  
+
   it('should correctly render initial state with track by feature', function() {
     var el = compileTemplate(
       '<ui-select ng-model="selection.selected"> \
@@ -1669,6 +1669,29 @@ describe('ui-select tests', function() {
       expect(el.scope().$select.multiple).toBe(true);
     });
 
+    it('should properly format values set on model for complex models', function() {
+
+      var el = compileTemplate(
+          '<ui-select multiple ng-model="selection.selectedMultiple" theme="bootstrap" style="width: 800px;"> \
+              <ui-select-match placeholder="Pick one...">{{$item.name}} &lt;{{$item.email}}&gt;</ui-select-match> \
+              <ui-select-choices repeat="person.name as person in people | filter: $select.search"> \
+                <div ng-bind-html="person.name | highlight: $select.search"></div> \
+                <div ng-bind-html="person.email | highlight: $select.search"></div> \
+              </ui-select-choices> \
+          </ui-select>'
+      );
+
+      var searchInput = el.find('.ui-select-search');
+
+      scope.selection.selectedMultiple = ['Estefanía', 'Adrian'];
+
+      // there was issue after second digest cyle, so we are triggering it twice
+      el.scope().$digest();
+      el.scope().$digest();
+
+      expect(el.scope().$select.selected).toEqual([scope.people[2], scope.people[3]]);
+    });
+
     it('should allow paste tag from clipboard', function() {
        scope.taggingFunc = function (name) {
          return {