diff --git a/src/_h5ai/js/inc/ext/select.js b/src/_h5ai/js/inc/ext/select.js
index 2bf4cbd1..6066f3fd 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/js/inc/ext/select.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/js/inc/ext/select.js
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ modulejs.define('ext/select', ['_', '$', 'core/settings', 'core/event'], functio
 			event.preventDefault();
 			$selectionRect
 				.stop(true, true)
-				.css({left: l, top: t, width: w, height: h});
+				.css({left: l, top: t, width: w, height: h, opacity: 1})
+				.show();
 
 			var selRect = $selectionRect.fracs('rect');
 			$('#extended .entry').removeClass('selecting').each(function () {
@@ -76,30 +77,23 @@ modulejs.define('ext/select', ['_', '$', 'core/settings', 'core/event'], functio
 
 			x = event.pageX;
 			y = event.pageY;
-			l = x;
-			t = y;
-			w = 0;
-			h = 0;
 
 			// only on left button and don't block the scrollbars
-			if (event.button !== 0 || l >= view.right || t >= view.bottom) {
+			if (event.button !== 0 || x >= view.right || y >= view.bottom) {
 				return;
 			}
 
-			event.preventDefault();
 			$(':focus').blur();
 			if (!event.ctrlKey && !event.metaKey) {
 				$('#extended .entry').removeClass('selected');
 				publish();
 			}
-			$selectionRect
-				.stop(true, true)
-				.css({left: l, top: t, width: w, height: h, opacity: 1})
-				.show();
 
 			$document
 				.on('mousemove', selectionUpdate)
 				.one('mouseup', selectionEnd);
+
+			selectionUpdate(event);
 		},
 
 		noSelection = function (event) {