diff --git a/src/uiSelectController.js b/src/uiSelectController.js
index 9e0968c3b..9de160c4d 100644
--- a/src/uiSelectController.js
+++ b/src/uiSelectController.js
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ uis.controller('uiSelectCtrl',
 
       var container = $element.querySelectorAll('.ui-select-choices-content');
       var searchInput = $element.querySelectorAll('.ui-select-search');
-      if (ctrl.$animate && ctrl.$animate.enabled(container[0])) {
+      if (ctrl.$animate && ctrl.$animate.on && ctrl.$animate.enabled(container[0])) {
         var animateHandler = function(elem, phase) {
           if (phase === 'start' && ctrl.items.length === 0) {
             // Only focus input after the animation has finished