diff --git a/src/typeahead/plugin.js b/src/typeahead/plugin.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/src/typeahead/plugin.js
+++ b/src/typeahead/plugin.js
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@
         typeahead = new Typeahead({
           input: $input,
           withHint: _.isUndefined(o.hint) ? true : !!o.hint,
-          minLength: o.minLength || 0,
-          autoselect: !!o.autoselect,
+          minLength: o.minLength,
+          autoselect: o.autoselect,
           sections: sections
         });
 
diff --git a/src/typeahead/typeahead.js b/src/typeahead/typeahead.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/src/typeahead/typeahead.js
+++ b/src/typeahead/typeahead.js
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ var Typeahead = (function() {
       $.error('missing input');
     }
 
-    this.autoselect = o.autoselect;
-    this.minLength = o.minLength || 0;
+    this.autoselect = !!o.autoselect;
+    this.minLength = _.isNumber(o.minLength) ? o.minLength : 1;
     this.$node = buildDomStructure(o.input, o.withHint);
 
     $menu = this.$node.find('.tt-dropdown-menu');
Ensure `minLength` is a number.