diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b1aedd6f..7dffd709 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -124,6 +124,22 @@ var App = React.createClass({
 ReactDOM.render(<App/>, appElement);
 ```
 
+By default the modal is closed when clicking outside of it (the overlay area). If you want to prevent this behavior you can
+pass the 'shouldCloseOnOverlayClick' prop with 'false' value.
+```xml
+<Modal
+  isOpen={bool}
+  onRequestClose={fn}
+  closeTimeoutMS={n}
+  shouldCloseOnOverlayClick={false}
+  style={customStyle}>
+
+  <h1>Force Modal</h1>
+  <p>Modal cannot be closed when clickig the overlay area</p>
+  <button onClick={handleCloseFunc}>Close Modal...</button>
+</Modal>
+```
+
 # Demos
 * http://reactjs.github.io/react-modal/
 * http://reactjs.github.io/react-modal/bootstrap
diff --git a/lib/components/Modal.js b/lib/components/Modal.js
index 49f0a86c..07b5dac8 100644
--- a/lib/components/Modal.js
+++ b/lib/components/Modal.js
@@ -29,14 +29,16 @@ var Modal = module.exports = React.createClass({
     appElement: React.PropTypes.instanceOf(SafeHTMLElement),
     onRequestClose: React.PropTypes.func,
     closeTimeoutMS: React.PropTypes.number,
-    ariaHideApp: React.PropTypes.bool
+    ariaHideApp: React.PropTypes.bool,
+    shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: React.PropTypes.bool
   },
 
   getDefaultProps: function () {
     return {
       isOpen: false,
       ariaHideApp: true,
-      closeTimeoutMS: 0
+      closeTimeoutMS: 0,
+      shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: true
     };
   },
 
diff --git a/lib/components/ModalPortal.js b/lib/components/ModalPortal.js
index acc29ab7..88398d81 100644
--- a/lib/components/ModalPortal.js
+++ b/lib/components/ModalPortal.js
@@ -149,10 +149,12 @@ var ModalPortal = module.exports = React.createClass({
   },
 
   handleOverlayClick: function() {
-    if (this.ownerHandlesClose())
-      this.requestClose();
-    else
-      this.focusContent();
+    if (this.props.shouldCloseOnOverlayClick) {
+      if (this.ownerHandlesClose())
+        this.requestClose();
+      else
+        this.focusContent();
+    }
   },
 
   requestClose: function() {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2a6c2b31..baece9d3 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
     "react-dom": "^0.14.0",
     "reactify": "^1.1.1",
     "rf-release": "0.4.0",
+    "sinon": "^1.17.3",
     "uglify-js": "2.4.24",
     "webpack": "^1.12.14",
     "webpack-dev-server": "1.11.0"
diff --git a/specs/Modal.spec.js b/specs/Modal.spec.js
index 6d8d4faf..54d0255a 100644
--- a/specs/Modal.spec.js
+++ b/specs/Modal.spec.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ var Modal = require('../lib/components/Modal');
 var Simulate = TestUtils.Simulate;
 var ariaAppHider = require('../lib/helpers/ariaAppHider');
 var button = ReactDOM.button;
+var sinon = require('sinon');
 
 describe('Modal', function () {
 
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ describe('Modal', function () {
     equal(props.isOpen, false);
     equal(props.ariaHideApp, true);
     equal(props.closeTimeoutMS, 0);
+    equal(props.shouldCloseOnOverlayClick, true);
     ReactDOM.unmountComponentAtNode(node);
     ariaAppHider.resetForTesting();
   });
@@ -102,13 +104,13 @@ describe('Modal', function () {
 
   it('supports custom className', function() {
     var modal = renderModal({isOpen: true, className: 'myClass'});
-    equal(modal.portal.refs.content.className.contains('myClass'), true);
+    notEqual(modal.portal.refs.content.className.indexOf('myClass'), -1);
     unmountModal();
   });
 
   it('supports overlayClassName', function () {
     var modal = renderModal({isOpen: true, overlayClassName: 'myOverlayClass'});
-    equal(modal.portal.refs.overlay.className.contains('myOverlayClass'), true);
+    notEqual(modal.portal.refs.overlay.className.indexOf('myOverlayClass'), -1);
     unmountModal();
   });
 
@@ -164,6 +166,55 @@ describe('Modal', function () {
     unmountModal();
   });
 
+  describe('should close on overlay click', function() {
+    afterEach('Unmount modal', function() {
+      unmountModal();
+    });
+
+    describe('verify props', function() {
+      it('verify default prop of shouldCloseOnOverlayClick', function () {
+        var modal = renderModal({isOpen: true});
+        equal(modal.props.shouldCloseOnOverlayClick, true);
+      });
+
+      it('verify prop of shouldCloseOnOverlayClick', function () {
+        var modal = renderModal({isOpen: true, shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: false});
+        equal(modal.props.shouldCloseOnOverlayClick, false);
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('verify clicks', function() {
+      it('verify overlay click when shouldCloseOnOverlayClick sets to false', function () {
+        var requestCloseCallback = sinon.spy();
+        var modal = renderModal({
+          isOpen: true,
+          shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: false
+        });
+        equal(modal.props.isOpen, true);
+        var overlay = TestUtils.scryRenderedDOMComponentsWithClass(modal.portal, 'ReactModal__Overlay');
+        equal(overlay.length, 1);
+        Simulate.click(overlay[0]); // click the overlay
+        ok(!requestCloseCallback.called)
+      });
+
+      it('verify overlay click when shouldCloseOnOverlayClick sets to true', function() {
+        var requestCloseCallback = sinon.spy();
+        var modal = renderModal({
+          isOpen: true,
+          shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: true,
+          onRequestClose: function() {
+            requestCloseCallback();
+          }
+        });
+        equal(modal.props.isOpen, true);
+        var overlay = TestUtils.scryRenderedDOMComponentsWithClass(modal.portal, 'ReactModal__Overlay');
+        equal(overlay.length, 1);
+        Simulate.click(overlay[0]); // click the overlay
+        ok(requestCloseCallback.called)
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   //it('adds --before-close for animations', function() {
     //var node = document.createElement('div');
 
diff --git a/specs/helper.js b/specs/helper.js
index 62e88bc4..5cc5e88b 100644
--- a/specs/helper.js
+++ b/specs/helper.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ var Modal = React.createFactory(require('../lib/components/Modal'));
 
 ok = assert.ok;
 equal = assert.equal;
+notEqual = assert.notEqual;
 strictEqual = assert.strictEqual;
 throws = assert.throws;