diff --git a/demos/slider/multiple-vertical.html b/demos/slider/multiple-vertical.html
index cdd3ad5024f..d9bed56aafc 100644
--- a/demos/slider/multiple-vertical.html
+++ b/demos/slider/multiple-vertical.html
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 	<script src="../../ui/slider.js"></script>
 	<link rel="stylesheet" href="../demos.css">
 	<style>
-	#eq span {
+	#eq > span {
 		height:120px; float:left; margin:15px
 	}
 	</style>
diff --git a/ui/slider.js b/ui/slider.js
index 6dac9067dd2..73bfb02736b 100644
--- a/ui/slider.js
+++ b/ui/slider.js
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ return $.widget( "ui.slider", $.ui.mouse, {
 		var i, handleCount,
 			options = this.options,
 			existingHandles = this.element.find( ".ui-slider-handle" ).addClass( "ui-state-default ui-corner-all" ),
-			handle = "<a class='ui-slider-handle ui-state-default ui-corner-all' href='#'></a>",
+			handle = "<span class='ui-slider-handle ui-state-default ui-corner-all' tabindex='0'></span>",
 			handles = [];
 
 		handleCount = ( options.values && options.values.length ) || 1;
@@ -149,11 +149,10 @@ return $.widget( "ui.slider", $.ui.mouse, {
 	},
 
 	_setupEvents: function() {
-		var elements = this.handles.add( this.range ).filter( "a" );
-		this._off( elements );
-		this._on( elements, this._handleEvents );
-		this._hoverable( elements );
-		this._focusable( elements );
+		this._off( this.handles );
+		this._on( this.handles, this._handleEvents );
+		this._hoverable( this.handles );
+		this._focusable( this.handles );
 	},
 
 	_destroy: function() {
@@ -673,9 +672,6 @@ return $.widget( "ui.slider", $.ui.mouse, {
 
 			this._slide( event, index, newVal );
 		},
-		click: function( event ) {
-			event.preventDefault();
-		},
 		keyup: function( event ) {
 			var index = $( event.target ).data( "ui-slider-handle-index" );