diff --git a/src/js/getmdl-select.js b/src/js/getmdl-select.js
index 3a5cb46..c985718 100644
--- a/src/js/getmdl-select.js
+++ b/src/js/getmdl-select.js
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
                     setSelectedItem(li);
                 };
 
-                if (li.dataset.selected) {
+                if (li.dataset.selected === 'true') {
                     setSelectedItem(li);
                 }
             });