diff --git a/spec/jquery/basic.spec.coffee b/spec/jquery/basic.spec.coffee
index 918be661c0b..f358fd31841 100644
--- a/spec/jquery/basic.spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/jquery/basic.spec.coffee
@@ -31,3 +31,36 @@ describe "Basic setup", ->
 
     expect(select.val()).toBe "Afghanistan"
 
+  describe "data-placeholder", ->
+
+    it "should render", ->
+      tmpl = "
+        <select data-placeholder='Choose a Country...'>
+          <option value=''></option>
+          <option value='United States'>United States</option>
+          <option value='United Kingdom'>United Kingdom</option>
+          <option value='Afghanistan'>Afghanistan</option>
+        </select>
+      "
+      div = $("<div>").html(tmpl)
+      select = div.find("select")
+      expect(select.size()).toBe(1)
+      select.chosen()
+      placeholder = div.find(".chosen-single > span")
+      expect(placeholder.text()).toBe("Choose a Country...")
+
+    it "should render with special characters", ->
+      tmpl = "
+        <select data-placeholder='&lt;None&gt;'>
+          <option value=''></option>
+          <option value='United States'>United States</option>
+          <option value='United Kingdom'>United Kingdom</option>
+          <option value='Afghanistan'>Afghanistan</option>
+        </select>
+      "
+      div = $("<div>").html(tmpl)
+      select = div.find("select")
+      expect(select.size()).toBe(1)
+      select.chosen()
+      placeholder = div.find(".chosen-single > span")
+      expect(placeholder.text()).toBe("<None>")
diff --git a/spec/proto/basic.spec.coffee b/spec/proto/basic.spec.coffee
index ac5f3102848..da8b3591306 100644
--- a/spec/proto/basic.spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/proto/basic.spec.coffee
@@ -35,3 +35,43 @@ describe "Basic setup", ->
 
     expect($F(select)).toBe "Afghanistan"
     div.remove()
+
+  describe "data-placeholder", ->
+
+    it "should render", ->
+      tmpl = "
+        <select data-placeholder='Choose a Country...'>
+          <option value=''></option>
+          <option value='United States'>United States</option>
+          <option value='United Kingdom'>United Kingdom</option>
+          <option value='Afghanistan'>Afghanistan</option>
+        </select>
+      "
+      div = new Element("div")
+      document.body.insert(div)
+      div.update(tmpl)
+      select = div.down("select")
+      expect(select).toBeDefined()
+      new Chosen(select)
+
+      placeholder = div.down(".chosen-single > span")
+      expect(placeholder.innerText).toBe("Choose a Country...")
+
+    it "should render with special characters", ->
+      tmpl = "
+        <select data-placeholder='&lt;None&gt;'>
+          <option value=''></option>
+          <option value='United States'>United States</option>
+          <option value='United Kingdom'>United Kingdom</option>
+          <option value='Afghanistan'>Afghanistan</option>
+        </select>
+      "
+      div = new Element("div")
+      document.body.insert(div)
+      div.update(tmpl)
+      select = div.down("select")
+      expect(select).toBeDefined()
+      new Chosen(select)
+
+      placeholder = div.down(".chosen-single > span")
+      expect(placeholder.innerText).toBe("<None>")