diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6400754..4615be8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ or as an [ES7 class decorator](https://github.com/wycats/javascript-decorators)
     -   `$0.containerStyle`   (optional, default `defaultContainerStyle`)
     -   `$0.className`   (optional, default `null`)
     -   `$0.elementResize`   (optional, default `false`)
+    -   `options.withRef` **[boolean](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Boolean)=** Set true to enable accessing the wrapped instance with
+        [getWrappedInstance()](https://github.com/digidem/react-dimensions#getwrappedinstance). Disable this when wrapping stateless components, as they cannot use `refs`. (optional, default `true`)
 
 **Examples**
 
diff --git a/index.jsx b/index.jsx
index e7898e7..f66f434 100644
--- a/index.jsx
+++ b/index.jsx
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ module.exports = function Dimensions ({
     containerStyle = defaultContainerStyle,
     className = null,
     elementResize = false
+    withRef = true
   } = {}) {
   return (ComposedComponent) => {
     return class DimensionsHOC extends React.Component {
@@ -147,7 +148,10 @@ module.exports = function Dimensions ({
        * @return {object} The rendered React component
        **/
       getWrappedInstance () {
-        this.refs.wrappedInstance
+        if (!withRef) {
+          console.warn('You need to enable the `withRef` option to access the wrapped instance')
+        }
+        return this.refs.wrappedInstance
       }
 
       render () {
@@ -155,6 +159,7 @@ module.exports = function Dimensions ({
         if (!containerWidth && !containerHeight) {
           console.warn('Wrapper div has no height or width, try overriding style with `containerStyle` option')
         }
+        const ref = withRef ? 'wrappedInstance' : null
         return (
           <div className={className} style={containerStyle} ref='container'>
             {(containerWidth || containerHeight) &&
@@ -162,7 +167,7 @@ module.exports = function Dimensions ({
                 {...this.state}
                 {...this.props}
                 updateDimensions={this.updateDimensions}
-                ref='wrappedInstance'
+                ref={ref}
               />
             }
           </div>