diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index c0c8a3eb..73dc4c76 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ OPENSEADRAGON CHANGELOG
     * Viewer.innerTracker.scrollHandler: preventDefaultAction == true prevents viewer zooming on mousewheel/pinch
 * Fixed: IE8 error with custom buttons - "Object doesn't support this action" (#279)
 * Support IIIF servers that don't report tile dimensions (#286)
-* Added a static 'version' property to OpenSeadragon. Useful for plugins that require specific OpenSeadragon versions.
+* Added an autoResize option. Default is true. When set to false, the viewer takes no action when its container element is resized. (#291)
+* Added a static 'version' property to OpenSeadragon. Useful for plugins that require specific OpenSeadragon versions. (#292)
 
 0.9.131:
 
diff --git a/src/openseadragon.js b/src/openseadragon.js
index 96b177de..e9c0f388 100644
--- a/src/openseadragon.js
+++ b/src/openseadragon.js
@@ -224,6 +224,9 @@
   *     image though it is less effective visually if the HTML5 Canvas is not
   *     availble on the viewing device.
   *
+  * @property {Boolean} [autoResize=true]
+  *     Set to false to prevent polling for viewer size changes. Useful for providing custom resize behavior.
+  *
   * @property {Number} [pixelsPerWheelLine=40]
   *     For pixel-resolution scrolling devices, the number of pixels equal to one scroll line.
   *
@@ -691,6 +694,7 @@ window.OpenSeadragon = window.OpenSeadragon || function( options ){
             minZoomImageRatio:      0.9, //-> closer to 0 allows zoom out to infinity
             maxZoomPixelRatio:      1.1, //-> higher allows 'over zoom' into pixels
             pixelsPerWheelLine:     40,
+            autoResize:             true,
 
             //DEFAULT CONTROL SETTINGS
             showSequenceControl:    true,  //SEQUENCE
diff --git a/src/viewer.js b/src/viewer.js
index 72ebc1bb..7d9e755b 100644
--- a/src/viewer.js
+++ b/src/viewer.js
@@ -1896,14 +1896,16 @@ function updateOnce( viewer ) {
 
     //viewer.profiler.beginUpdate();
 
-    containerSize = _getSafeElemSize( viewer.container );
-    if ( !containerSize.equals( THIS[ viewer.hash ].prevContainerSize ) ) {
-        // maintain image position
-        var oldBounds = viewer.viewport.getBounds();
-        var oldCenter = viewer.viewport.getCenter();
-        resizeViewportAndRecenter(viewer, containerSize, oldBounds, oldCenter);
-        THIS[ viewer.hash ].prevContainerSize = containerSize;
-        THIS[ viewer.hash ].forceRedraw = true;
+    if ( viewer.autoResize ) {
+        containerSize = _getSafeElemSize( viewer.container );
+        if ( !containerSize.equals( THIS[ viewer.hash ].prevContainerSize ) ) {
+            // maintain image position
+            var oldBounds = viewer.viewport.getBounds();
+            var oldCenter = viewer.viewport.getCenter();
+            resizeViewportAndRecenter(viewer, containerSize, oldBounds, oldCenter);
+            THIS[ viewer.hash ].prevContainerSize = containerSize;
+            THIS[ viewer.hash ].forceRedraw = true;
+        }
     }
 
     animated = viewer.viewport.update();
diff --git a/src/viewport.js b/src/viewport.js
index 7acfe5b2..65230f4a 100644
--- a/src/viewport.js
+++ b/src/viewport.js
@@ -674,14 +674,15 @@ $.Viewport.prototype = /** @lends OpenSeadragon.Viewport.prototype */{
     resize: function( newContainerSize, maintain ) {
         var oldBounds = this.getBounds(),
             newBounds = oldBounds,
-            widthDeltaFactor = newContainerSize.x / this.containerSize.x;
+            widthDeltaFactor;
 
         this.containerSize = new $.Point(
             newContainerSize.x,
             newContainerSize.y
         );
 
-        if (maintain) {
+        if ( maintain ) {
+            widthDeltaFactor = newContainerSize.x / this.containerSize.x;
             newBounds.width  = oldBounds.width * widthDeltaFactor;
             newBounds.height = newBounds.width / this.getAspectRatio();
         }