diff --git a/types/mousetrap/index.d.ts b/types/mousetrap/index.d.ts
index d55559e3af..e1ab447a65 100644
--- a/types/mousetrap/index.d.ts
+++ b/types/mousetrap/index.d.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ interface ExtendedKeyboardEvent extends KeyboardEvent {
 
 interface MousetrapStatic {
     (el: Element): MousetrapInstance;
-    new (el: Element): MousetrapInstance;
+    new (el?: Element): MousetrapInstance;
     addKeycodes(keycodes: { [key: number]: string }): void;
     stopCallback: (e: ExtendedKeyboardEvent, element: Element, combo: string) => boolean;
     bind(keys: string|string[], callback: (e: ExtendedKeyboardEvent, combo: string) => any, action?: string): void;
diff --git a/types/mousetrap/test/index.ts b/types/mousetrap/test/index.ts
index fae472b76f..13d1ea5c36 100644
--- a/types/mousetrap/test/index.ts
+++ b/types/mousetrap/test/index.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,11 @@ Mousetrap.reset();
 // event handler to the form element only, instead of the entire document.
 var element = document.querySelector('form');
 var instance = new Mousetrap(element);
-instance.bind('mod+s', function(){ console.log('Instance Saved'); });
+instance.bind('mod+s', function () { console.log('Instance Saved'); });
+
+// Test that we can create an instance of mousetrap without passing element to the constructor.
+var documentInstance = new Mousetrap();
+documentInstance.bind('mod+s', function () { console.log('documentInstance Saved'); });
 
 // Test that the factory method works as well.
 Mousetrap(element).bind('mod+s', function(){ console.log('Factory Saved'); });