diff --git a/src/uiSelectMultipleDirective.js b/src/uiSelectMultipleDirective.js
index b1e997ec5..e1fea9859 100644
--- a/src/uiSelectMultipleDirective.js
+++ b/src/uiSelectMultipleDirective.js
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ uis.directive('uiSelectMultiple', ['uiSelectMinErr','$timeout', function(uiSelec
 
       ctrl.getPlaceholder = function(){
         //Refactor single?
-        if($select.selected.length) return;
+        if($select.selected && $select.selected.length) return;
         return $select.placeholder;
       };
 
@@ -398,4 +398,4 @@ uis.directive('uiSelectMultiple', ['uiSelectMinErr','$timeout', function(uiSelec
 
     }
   };
-}]);
\ No newline at end of file
+}]);