diff --git a/select2.js b/select2.js
index 855b8d40..00090969 100755
--- a/select2.js
+++ b/select2.js
@@ -488,11 +488,16 @@
                     this.highlightUnderEvent(e);
                     this.selectHighlighted(e);
                 } else {
-                    killEvent(e);
                     this.focusSearch();
                 }
+                killEvent(e);
             }));
 
+            // trap all mouse events from leaving the dropdown. sometimes there may be a modal that is listening
+            // for mouse events outside of itself so it can close itself. since the dropdown is now outside the select2's
+            // dom it will trigger the popup close, which is not what we want
+            this.dropdown.bind("click mouseup mousedown", function (e) { e.stopPropagation(); });
+
             if ($.isFunction(this.opts.initSelection)) {
                 // initialize selection based on the current value of the source element
                 this.initSelection();