diff --git a/react-select/react-select-tests.tsx b/react-select/react-select-tests.tsx
index 7b8027123d..de45b52d32 100644
--- a/react-select/react-select-tests.tsx
+++ b/react-select/react-select-tests.tsx
@@ -141,6 +141,25 @@ class SelectTest extends React.Component<React.Props<{}>, {}> {
     }
 }
 
+class SelectWithStringValueTest extends React.Component<React.Props<{}>, {}> {
+
+    render() {
+        const options: Option[] = [{ label: "Foo", value: "bar" }];
+        const onChange = (value: any) => console.log(value);
+
+        const selectProps: ReactSelectProps = {
+            name: "test-select-with-string-value",
+            value: "bar",
+            options: options,
+            onChange: onChange
+        };
+
+        return <div>
+            <Select {...selectProps} />
+        </div>;
+    }
+}
+
 class SelectAsyncTest extends React.Component<React.Props<{}>, {}> {
 
     render() {
diff --git a/react-select/react-select.d.ts b/react-select/react-select.d.ts
index a321bc2945..f58cdafbdb 100644
--- a/react-select/react-select.d.ts
+++ b/react-select/react-select.d.ts
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ declare namespace ReactSelect {
         /**
          * initial field value
          */
-        value?: Option | Option[];
+        value?: Option | Option[] | string | string[] | number | number[];
         /**
          * the option property to use for the value
          * @default "value"