diff --git a/src/js/select2/utils.js b/src/js/select2/utils.js
index 7bb962dc..d1a23d29 100644
--- a/src/js/select2/utils.js
+++ b/src/js/select2/utils.js
@@ -124,9 +124,23 @@ define([
 
   Observable.prototype.trigger = function (event) {
     var slice = Array.prototype.slice;
+    var params = slice.call(arguments, 1);
 
     this.listeners = this.listeners || {};
 
+    // Params should always come in as an array
+    if (params == null) {
+      params = [];
+    }
+
+    // If there are no arguments to the event, use a temporary object
+    if (params.length === 0) {
+      params.push({});
+    }
+
+    // Set the `_type` of the first object to the event
+    params[0]._type = event;
+
     if (event in this.listeners) {
       this.invoke(this.listeners[event], slice.call(arguments, 1));
     }