diff --git a/src/canopy/canopy.fs b/src/canopy/canopy.fs
index 9292dbf7..b0a32f21 100644
--- a/src/canopy/canopy.fs
+++ b/src/canopy/canopy.fs
@@ -279,7 +279,14 @@ let last cssSelector = (List.rev (elements cssSelector)).Head
    
 //read/write
 let private writeToSelect (elem:IWebElement) (text:string) =
-    let options = Seq.toList (elem.FindElements(By.XPath(sprintf "option[text()='%s']" text)))
+    let options =
+        let optionsByText = unreliableElementsWithin (sprintf "option[text()='%s']" text) elem
+        if writeToSelectWithOptionValue then            
+            let optionsByValue = unreliableElementsWithin (sprintf "option[value='%s']" text) elem
+            optionsByText @ optionsByValue
+        else //to preserve previous behaviour
+            optionsByText
+    
     match options with
     | [] -> raise (CanopyOptionNotFoundException(sprintf "element %s does not contain value %s" (elem.ToString()) text))
     | head::tail -> head.Click()
diff --git a/src/canopy/configuration.fs b/src/canopy/configuration.fs
index f46d348d..bad57482 100644
--- a/src/canopy/configuration.fs
+++ b/src/canopy/configuration.fs
@@ -19,3 +19,4 @@ let mutable disableSuggestOtherSelectors = false
 let mutable autoPinBrowserRightOnLaunch = true
 let mutable throwIfMoreThanOneElement = false
 let mutable configuredFinders = finders.defaultFinders
+let mutable writeToSelectWithOptionValue = true
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/basictests/Program.fs b/tests/basictests/Program.fs
index f0cc30f3..fcb9245d 100644
--- a/tests/basictests/Program.fs
+++ b/tests/basictests/Program.fs
@@ -421,6 +421,12 @@ waitFor condition failed to become true in 3.0 seconds"
     !^ testpage
     "#states" << "Kingman Reef"
     "#states" == "Kingman Reef"
+
+"writting (selecting) to drop down test, via option value, many options" &&& fun _ ->
+    //note that this can be turned off if its causing you problems via config.writeToSelectWithOptionValue
+    !^ testpage
+    "#states" << "95"
+    "#states" == "Palmyra Atoll"
     
 "double clicking" &&& fun _ ->
     !^ "http://lefthandedgoat.github.io/canopy/testpages/doubleClick"