diff --git a/src/scripts/choices.js b/src/scripts/choices.js
index 6c2e291..c1fbc32 100644
--- a/src/scripts/choices.js
+++ b/src/scripts/choices.js
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ class Choices {
     this._prevState = {};
     this._currentValue = '';
     this._canSearch = this.config.searchEnabled;
+    this._isDisabled = this.config.addItems;
     this._isScrollingOnIe = false;
     this._highlightPosition = 0;
     this._wasTap = true;
@@ -214,7 +215,7 @@ class Choices {
   }
 
   enable() {
-    if (!this.initialised) {
+    if (!this._isDisabled) {
       return this;
     }
 
@@ -226,11 +227,13 @@ class Choices {
       this.containerOuter.enable();
     }
 
+    this._isDisabled = false;
+
     return this;
   }
 
   disable() {
-    if (!this.initialised) {
+    if (this._isDisabled) {
       return this;
     }
 
@@ -242,6 +245,8 @@ class Choices {
       this.containerOuter.disable();
     }
 
+    this._isDisabled = true;
+
     return this;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/scripts/choices.test.js b/src/scripts/choices.test.js
index 800e83d..a86bdca 100644
--- a/src/scripts/choices.test.js
+++ b/src/scripts/choices.test.js
@@ -200,9 +200,9 @@ describe('choices', () => {
         inputEnableSpy.restore();
       });
 
-      describe('not already initialised', () => {
+      describe('when already enabled', () => {
         beforeEach(() => {
-          instance.initialised = false;
+          instance._isDisabled = false;
           output = instance.enable();
         });
 
@@ -216,10 +216,10 @@ describe('choices', () => {
         });
       });
 
-      describe('when already initialised', () => {
+      describe('when not already enabled', () => {
         describe('containerOuter enabled', () => {
           beforeEach(() => {
-            instance.initialised = true;
+            instance._isDisabled = true;
             output = instance.enable();
           });
 
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ describe('choices', () => {
 
         describe('containerOuter disabled', () => {
           beforeEach(() => {
-            instance.initialised = true;
+            instance._isDisabled = true;
             instance.containerOuter.isDisabled = true;
             instance.enable();
           });
@@ -272,9 +272,9 @@ describe('choices', () => {
         inputDisableSpy.restore();
       });
 
-      describe('not already initialised', () => {
+      describe('when already disabled', () => {
         beforeEach(() => {
-          instance.initialised = false;
+          instance._isDisabled = true;
           output = instance.disable();
         });
 
@@ -288,10 +288,10 @@ describe('choices', () => {
         });
       });
 
-      describe('when already initialised', () => {
+      describe('when not already disabled', () => {
         describe('containerOuter disabled', () => {
           beforeEach(() => {
-            instance.initialised = true;
+            instance._isDisabled = false;
             instance.containerOuter.isDisabled = true;
             output = instance.disable();
           });
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ describe('choices', () => {
 
         describe('containerOuter enabled', () => {
           beforeEach(() => {
-            instance.initialised = true;
+            instance._isDisabled = false;
             instance.containerOuter.isDisabled = false;
             instance.disable();
           });