diff --git a/src/jquery.autocomplete.js b/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
index 8be9a273..abc809ff 100644
--- a/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
+++ b/src/jquery.autocomplete.js
@@ -687,7 +687,8 @@
             if (options.autoSelectFirst) {
                 that.selectedIndex = 0;
                 container.scrollTop(0);
-                container.children().first().addClass(classSelected);
+                var filter = '[data-index="' + that.selectedIndex + '"]';
+                container.children().filter(filter).addClass(classSelected);
             }
 
             that.visible = true;