diff --git a/select2.js b/select2.js
index 1c2c88ed..cb08670b 100644
--- a/select2.js
+++ b/select2.js
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@ the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the Apache Lic
             // focusin can cause focus wars between modals and select2 since the dropdown is outside the modal.
             this.dropdown.on("click mouseup mousedown touchstart touchend focusin", function (e) { e.stopPropagation(); });
 
-            this.nextSearchTerm = undefined;
+            this.lastSearchTerm = undefined;
 
             if ($.isFunction(this.opts.initSelection)) {
                 // initialize selection based on the current value of the source element
@@ -1500,6 +1500,27 @@ the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the Apache Lic
 
         },
 
+        /**
+         * @return {Boolean} Whether or not search value was changed.
+         * @private
+         */
+        prefillNextSearchTerm: function () {
+            // initializes search's value with nextSearchTerm (if defined by user)
+            // ignore nextSearchTerm if the dropdown is opened by the user pressing a letter
+            if(this.search.val() !== "") {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            var nextSearchTerm = this.opts.nextSearchTerm(this.data(), this.lastSearchTerm);
+            if(nextSearchTerm !== undefined){
+                this.search.val(nextSearchTerm);
+                this.search.select();
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            return false;
+        },
+
         //abstract
         getMaximumSelectionSize: function() {
             return evaluate(this.opts.maximumSelectionSize, this.opts.element);
@@ -2016,14 +2037,7 @@ the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the Apache Lic
                 }
             }
 
-            // initializes search's value with nextSearchTerm (if defined by user)
-            // ignore nextSearchTerm if the dropdown is opened by the user pressing a letter
-            if(this.search.val() === "") {
-                if(this.nextSearchTerm != undefined){
-                    this.search.val(this.nextSearchTerm);
-                    this.search.select();
-                }
-            }
+            this.prefillNextSearchTerm();
 
             this.focusser.prop("disabled", true).val("");
             this.updateResults(true);
@@ -2318,7 +2332,7 @@ the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the Apache Lic
                         self.updateSelection(selected);
                         self.close();
                         self.setPlaceholder();
-                        self.nextSearchTerm = self.opts.nextSearchTerm(selected, self.search.val());
+                        self.lastSearchTerm = self.search.val();
                     }
                 });
             }
@@ -2455,7 +2469,7 @@ the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the Apache Lic
 
             this.opts.element.trigger({ type: "select2-selected", val: this.id(data), choice: data });
 
-            this.nextSearchTerm = this.opts.nextSearchTerm(data, this.search.val());
+            this.lastSearchTerm = this.search.val();
             this.close();
 
             if ((!options || !options.noFocus) && this.opts.shouldFocusInput(this)) {
@@ -2923,16 +2937,9 @@ the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the Apache Lic
 
             this.focusSearch();
 
-            // initializes search's value with nextSearchTerm (if defined by user)
-            // ignore nextSearchTerm if the dropdown is opened by the user pressing a letter
-            if(this.search.val() === "") {
-                if(this.nextSearchTerm != undefined){
-                    this.search.val(this.nextSearchTerm);
-                    this.search.select();
-                }
-            }
-
+            this.prefillNextSearchTerm();
             this.updateResults(true);
+
             if (this.opts.shouldFocusInput(this)) {
                 this.search.focus();
             }
@@ -2999,7 +3006,7 @@ the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the Apache Lic
             this.opts.element.trigger({ type: "selected", val: this.id(data), choice: data });
 
             // keep track of the search's value before it gets cleared
-            this.nextSearchTerm = this.opts.nextSearchTerm(data, this.search.val());
+            this.lastSearchTerm = this.search.val();
 
             this.clearSearch();
             this.updateResults();
@@ -3019,10 +3026,8 @@ the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the Apache Lic
                         this.updateResults(true);
                     } else {
                         // initializes search's value with nextSearchTerm and update search result
-                        if(this.nextSearchTerm != undefined){
-                            this.search.val(this.nextSearchTerm);
+                        if (this.prefillNextSearchTerm()) {
                             this.updateResults();
-                            this.search.select();
                         }
                     }
                     this.positionDropdown();