diff --git a/src/selection.coffee b/src/selection.coffee
index 499f7c2b..c224407c 100644
--- a/src/selection.coffee
+++ b/src/selection.coffee
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class Selection extends SimpleModule
         startNodes.unshift @_range.startContainer
         $(startNodes)
 
-    @_startNodes
+    @_startNodes || []
 
   endNodes: ->
     if @_range