diff --git a/src/select.js b/src/select.js
index c450b7a3d..91923a165 100644
--- a/src/select.js
+++ b/src/select.js
@@ -1109,8 +1109,13 @@
             if (oldValue != newValue)
               ngModel.$modelValue = null; //Force scope model value and ngModel value to be out of sync to re-run formatters
           });
+          $select.firstPass = true; // so the form doesn't get dirty as soon as it loads
           scope.$watchCollection('$select.selected', function() {
-            ngModel.$setViewValue(Date.now()); //Set timestamp as a unique string to force changes
+            if (!$select.firstPass) {
+              ngModel.$setViewValue(Date.now()); //Set timestamp as a unique string to force changes
+            } else {
+              $select.firstPass = false;
+            }
           });
           focusser.prop('disabled', true); //Focusser isn't needed if multiple
         }else{
diff --git a/test/select.spec.js b/test/select.spec.js
index 70b4acd14..37f656a18 100644
--- a/test/select.spec.js
+++ b/test/select.spec.js
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ describe('ui-select tests', function() {
       beforeEach(function() {
         disablePerson({
           disableAttr : 'inactive',
-          disableBool : true,
+          disableBool : true
         });
         this.el = createUiSelect({
           disabled: 'person.inactive'
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ describe('ui-select tests', function() {
       beforeEach(function() {
         disablePerson({
           disableAttr : 'active',
-          disableBool : false,
+          disableBool : false
         });
         this.el = createUiSelect({
           disabled: '!person.active'
@@ -1123,13 +1123,13 @@ describe('ui-select tests', function() {
         expect(el.find('.ui-select-match-item').length).toBe(0);
     });
 
-    it('should set model as an empty array if ngModel isnt defined', function () {
+    it('should set model as an empty array if ngModel isnt defined after an item is selected', function () {
 
       // scope.selection.selectedMultiple = [];
       var el = createUiSelectMultiple();
-
+      expect(scope.selection.selectedMultiple instanceof Array).toBe(false);
+      clickItem(el, 'Samantha');
       expect(scope.selection.selectedMultiple instanceof Array).toBe(true);
-
     });
 
     it('should render initial selected items', function() {