diff --git a/lib/widgets/listbar.js b/lib/widgets/listbar.js
index 2f6ff71..d05cc55 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/listbar.js
+++ b/lib/widgets/listbar.js
@@ -298,6 +298,17 @@ Listbar.prototype.select = function(offset) {
     offset = this.items.indexOf(offset);
   }
 
+  if (offset < 0) {
+    offset = 0;
+  } else if (offset >= this.items.length) {
+    offset = this.items.length - 1;
+  }
+
+  if (!this.parent) {
+    this.emit('select item', el, offset);
+    return;
+  }
+
   var lpos = this._getCoords();
   if (!lpos) return;
 
@@ -307,12 +318,6 @@ Listbar.prototype.select = function(offset) {
     , visible = 0
     , el;
 
-  if (offset < 0) {
-    offset = 0;
-  } else if (offset >= this.items.length) {
-    offset = this.items.length - 1;
-  }
-
   el = this.items[offset];
   if (!el) return;