diff --git a/lib/countries/select_helper.rb b/lib/countries/select_helper.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/countries/select_helper.rb
+++ b/lib/countries/select_helper.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ module ActionView
       def to_country_select_tag(priority_countries, options, html_options)
         html_options = html_options.stringify_keys
         add_default_name_and_id(html_options)
-        value = value(object)
+        value = options.delete(:selected) || value(object)
         content_tag("select",
           add_options(
             country_options_for_select(value, priority_countries),
allow overriding selected option in country_select helper.