diff --git a/demos/selectmenu/default.html b/demos/selectmenu/default.html
index eecc25d12..8e481ea63 100644
--- a/demos/selectmenu/default.html
+++ b/demos/selectmenu/default.html
@@ -17,11 +17,13 @@
 		$('select#speed').selectmenu({
 			dropdown: false
 		});
-		$('select#number').selectmenu({
-			dropdown: false,			
-			wrapperElement: '<div class="overflow"/>'
+		var withOverflow = $('select#number').selectmenu({
+			dropdown: false
 		});
+		withOverflow.selectmenu("widget").addClass("overflow");
+		
 		$('select#files').selectmenu();
+		
 	});
 	</script>
 	<style>
diff --git a/tests/visual/selectmenu/disabled.html b/tests/visual/selectmenu/disabled.html
index b096f95dd..a76cc7001 100644
--- a/tests/visual/selectmenu/disabled.html
+++ b/tests/visual/selectmenu/disabled.html
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@
 		$('select#speed').selectmenu({
 			dropdown: false
 		});
-		$('select#number').selectmenu({
-			dropdown: false,			
-			wrapperElement: '<div class="overflow"/>'
+		var withOverflow = $('select#number').selectmenu({
+			dropdown: false
 		});
+		withOverflow.selectmenu("widget").addClass("overflow");
 		$('select#files').selectmenu();		
 		var files2 = $('select#files2').selectmenu();
 		
diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.selectmenu.js b/ui/jquery.ui.selectmenu.js
index 155896034..3b6f84946 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.selectmenu.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.selectmenu.js
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ $.widget( "ui.selectmenu", {
 	defaultElement: "<select>",
 	options: {
 		dropdown: true,
-		wrapperElement: "<div />",
 		appendTo: "body",
 		position: {
 			my: "left top",
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ $.widget( "ui.selectmenu", {
 		// quick array of button and menu id's
 		that.ids = [ selectmenuId, selectmenuId + '-button', selectmenuId + '-menu' ];
 				
-		// set current value 
+		// set current value
 		if ( options.value ) {
 			that.element[0].value = options.value;
 		} else {
@@ -110,7 +109,7 @@ $.widget( "ui.selectmenu", {
 			});
 			
 		// wrap and insert new button
-		that.newelementWrap = $( options.wrapperElement )
+		that.newelementWrap = $( '<div />' )
 			.append( that.newelement )
 			.insertAfter( that.element );	
 	},
@@ -150,7 +149,7 @@ $.widget( "ui.selectmenu", {
 		});
 
 		// wrap list	
-		that.listWrap = $( options.wrapperElement )
+		that.listWrap = $( '<div />' )
 			.addClass( that.widgetBaseClass + '-menu' )
 			.width( setWidth )
 			.append( that.list )
@@ -297,7 +296,7 @@ $.widget( "ui.selectmenu", {
 			li.append( $( "<a />", {
 					text: item.label,
 					href: '#'
-				}) 
+				})
 			);
 		}			
 			
@@ -305,7 +304,7 @@ $.widget( "ui.selectmenu", {
 	},
 	
 	_move: function( key, event ) {
-		// TODO this focus is needed to make the select below work, 
+		// TODO this focus is needed to make the select below work,
 		// but should be removed as its fires an unwanted focus event
 		if ( !this.opened ) {
 			this.list.menu( "focus", event, this._getSelectedItem() );	
@@ -405,6 +404,10 @@ $.widget( "ui.selectmenu", {
 		}
 	},
 	
+	widget: function() {
+		return this.newelementWrap.add( this.listWrap );
+	},
+
 	_initSource: function() {
 		var data = [];	
 		$.each( this.element.find( 'option' ), function( index, item ) {