diff --git a/chosen/chosen.jquery.js b/chosen/chosen.jquery.js
index ad7bb5a..410ace6 100644
--- a/chosen/chosen.jquery.js
+++ b/chosen/chosen.jquery.js
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@
       }
       this.container.addClass("chzn-container-active");
       this.active_field = true;
-      this.search_field.value = this.search_field.value;
+      this.search_field.val(this.search_field.val());
       return this.search_field.focus();
     };
     Chosen.prototype.test_active_click = function(evt) {
@@ -338,10 +338,10 @@
     };
     Chosen.prototype.show_search_field_default = function() {
       if (this.is_multiple && this.choices < 1 && !this.active_field) {
-        this.search_field.value = this.default_text;
+        this.search_field.val(this.default_text);
         return this.search_field.addClass("default");
       } else {
-        this.search_field.value = "";
+        this.search_field.val("");
         return this.search_field.removeClass("default");
       }
     };
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@
     Chosen.prototype.choice_destroy = function(link) {
       this.choices -= 1;
       this.show_search_field_default();
-      if (this.is_multiple && this.choices > 0 && this.search_field.value.length < 1) {
+      if (this.is_multiple && this.choices > 0 && this.search_field.val().length < 1) {
         this.results_hide();
       }
       this.result_deselect(link.attr("rel"));
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@
       }
       switch (stroke) {
         case 8:
-          return this.backstroke_length = this.search_field.value.length;
+          return this.backstroke_length = this.search_field.val().length;
         case 9:
           return this.mouse_on_container = false;
         case 13:
diff --git a/coffee/chosen.jquery.coffee b/coffee/chosen.jquery.coffee
index 5b69723..2fa8f80 100644
--- a/coffee/chosen.jquery.coffee
+++ b/coffee/chosen.jquery.coffee
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class Chosen
     @container.addClass "chzn-container-active"
     @active_field = true
 
-    @search_field.value = @search_field.value
+    @search_field.val(@search_field.val())
     @search_field.focus()
 
 
@@ -302,10 +302,10 @@ class Chosen
 
   show_search_field_default: ->
     if @is_multiple and @choices < 1 and not @active_field
-      @search_field.value = @default_text
+      @search_field.val(@default_text)
       @search_field.addClass "default"
     else
-      @search_field.value = ""
+      @search_field.val("")
       @search_field.removeClass "default"
 
   search_results_click: (evt) ->
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class Chosen
     @choices -= 1
     this.show_search_field_default()
 
-    this.results_hide() if @is_multiple and @choices > 0 and @search_field.value.length < 1
+    this.results_hide() if @is_multiple and @choices > 0 and @search_field.val().length < 1
 
     this.result_deselect (link.attr "rel")
     link.parents('li').first().remove()
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ class Chosen
     
     switch stroke
       when 8
-        @backstroke_length = this.search_field.value.length
+        @backstroke_length = this.search_field.val().length
       when 9
         @mouse_on_container = false
       when 13