diff --git a/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js b/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
index 8102b1f4f..0f6692c3c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
+++ b/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
@@ -625,6 +625,19 @@ test( ".widget() - overriden", function() {
 	deepEqual( wrapper[0], $( "<div>" ).testWidget().testWidget( "widget" )[0] );
 });
 
+test( ".instance()", function() {
+	expect( 1 );
+	var div,
+		_test = function() {};
+
+	$.widget( "ui.testWidget", {
+		_create: function() {},
+		_test: _test
+	});
+	div = $( "<div>" ).testWidget();
+	equal( div.testWidget( "instance" ), div.data( "ui-testWidget" ) );
+});
+
 test( "._on() to element (default)", function() {
 	expect( 12 );
 	var that, widget;
diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
index adc4b9da1..ca097e02b 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
@@ -182,6 +182,10 @@ $.widget.bridge = function( name, object ) {
 					return $.error( "cannot call methods on " + name + " prior to initialization; " +
 						"attempted to call method '" + options + "'" );
 				}
+				if ( options === "instance" ) {
+					returnValue = instance;
+					return false;
+				}
 				if ( !$.isFunction( instance[options] ) || options.charAt( 0 ) === "_" ) {
 					return $.error( "no such method '" + options + "' for " + name + " widget instance" );
 				}