diff --git a/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js b/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
index acf461a9af2..9180072e3f0 100644
--- a/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
+++ b/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
@@ -662,6 +662,46 @@ test( "._on() to element (default)", function() {
 		.trigger( "keydown" );
 });
 
+test( "._on() to element with suppressDisabledCheck", function() {
+	expect( 18 );
+	var that, widget;
+	$.widget( "ui.testWidget", {
+		_create: function() {
+			that = this;
+			this._on( true, {
+				keyup: this.keyup,
+				keydown: "keydown"
+			});
+		},
+		keyup: function( event ) {
+			equal( that, this );
+			equal( that.element[0], event.currentTarget );
+			equal( "keyup", event.type );
+		},
+		keydown: function( event ) {
+			equal( that, this );
+			equal( that.element[0], event.currentTarget );
+			equal( "keydown", event.type );
+		}
+	});
+	widget = $( "<div></div>" )
+		.testWidget()
+		.trigger( "keyup" )
+		.trigger( "keydown" );
+	widget
+		.testWidget( "disable" )
+		.trigger( "keyup" )
+		.trigger( "keydown" );
+	widget
+		.testWidget( "enable" )
+		.trigger( "keyup" )
+		.trigger( "keydown" );
+	widget
+		.testWidget( "destroy" )
+		.trigger( "keyup" )
+		.trigger( "keydown" );
+});
+
 test( "._on() to descendent", function() {
 	expect( 12 );
 	var that, widget, descendant;
diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
index 5a069f2ef52..83696e94050 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
@@ -359,9 +359,17 @@ $.Widget.prototype = {
 		return this._setOption( "disabled", true );
 	},
 
-	_on: function( element, handlers ) {
+	_on: function( suppressDisabledCheck, element, handlers ) {
 		var delegateElement,
 			instance = this;
+
+		// no suppressDisabledCheck flag, shuffle arguments
+		if ( typeof suppressDisabledCheck !== "boolean" ) {
+			handlers = element;
+			element = suppressDisabledCheck;
+			suppressDisabledCheck = false;
+		}
+
 		// no element argument, shuffle and use this.element
 		if ( !handlers ) {
 			handlers = element;
@@ -378,8 +386,9 @@ $.Widget.prototype = {
 				// allow widgets to customize the disabled handling
 				// - disabled as an array instead of boolean
 				// - disabled class as method for disabling individual parts
-				if ( instance.options.disabled === true ||
-						$( this ).hasClass( "ui-state-disabled" ) ) {
+				if ( !suppressDisabledCheck &&
+						( instance.options.disabled === true ||
+							$( this ).hasClass( "ui-state-disabled" ) ) ) {
 					return;
 				}
 				return ( typeof handler === "string" ? instance[ handler ] : handler )