diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
index e21287ae0..ead4af12b 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
@@ -99,10 +99,7 @@ $.widget.bridge = function( name, object ) {
 			this.each(function() {
 				var instance = $.data( this, name );
 				if ( instance ) {
-					if ( options ) {
-						instance.option( options );
-					}
-					instance._init();
+					instance.option( options || {} )._init();
 				} else {
 					$.data( this, name, new object( options, this ) );
 				}