diff --git a/select2.css b/select2.css
index 231bda10..c2a17eb0 100644
--- a/select2.css
+++ b/select2.css
@@ -144,6 +144,10 @@ Version: @@ver@@ Timestamp: @@timestamp@@
     left: 0;
     top: 0;
     z-index: 9998;
+    /* styles required for IE to work */
+    background-color: #fff;
+    opacity: 0;
+    filter: alpha(opacity=0);
 }
 
 .select2-drop {