diff --git a/select2.js b/select2.js
index 4dd6d6c0..2f18fd05 100644
--- a/select2.js
+++ b/select2.js
@@ -1473,14 +1473,6 @@ the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the Apache Lic
 
         // abstract
         getPlaceholder: function () {
-
-            // if a placeholder is specified on a select without the first empty option ignore it
-            if (this.select) {
-               if (this.select.find("option").first().text() !== "") {
-                   return undefined;
-               }
-            }
-
             return this.opts.element.attr("placeholder") ||
                 this.opts.element.attr("data-placeholder") || // jquery 1.4 compat
                 this.opts.element.data("placeholder") ||
@@ -1807,6 +1799,18 @@ the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the Apache Lic
             return opts;
         },
 
+        // single
+        getPlaceholder: function() {
+            // if a placeholder is specified on a single select without the first empty option ignore it
+            if (this.select) {
+                if (this.select.find("option").first().text() !== "") {
+                    return undefined;
+                }
+            }
+
+            return this.parent.getPlaceholder.apply(this, arguments);
+        },
+
         // single
         setPlaceholder: function () {
             var placeholder = this.getPlaceholder();