diff --git a/js/bootstrap-dropdown.js b/js/bootstrap-dropdown.js
index ec0588dc1aa3862743ba495a6761e2d547ee6013..d45e4d7fb56d1f410d1be8d0511ead35aa3b33d6 100644
--- a/js/bootstrap-dropdown.js
+++ b/js/bootstrap-dropdown.js
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@
         selector = selector && selector.replace(/.*(?=#[^\s]*$)/, '') //strip for ie7
       }
 
+      try {
+        $parent = $(selector)
+      }
+      catch(e) { 
+        $parent = false 
+      }
       $parent = $(selector)
       $parent.length || ($parent = $this.parent())