diff --git a/src/typeahead/plugin.js b/src/typeahead/plugin.js
index 1ec1d28..8d2f78b 100644
--- a/src/typeahead/plugin.js
+++ b/src/typeahead/plugin.js
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
     },
 
     val: function val(newVal) {
-      return newVal ? this.each(setQuery) : this.map(getQuery).get();
+      return _.isString(newVal) ? this.each(setQuery) : this.map(getQuery).get();
 
       function setQuery() {
         var $input = $(this), typeahead;