diff --git a/examples/basic/simple_usage/index.js b/examples/basic/simple_usage/index.js
index c675927f..4ab6676d 100644
--- a/examples/basic/simple_usage/index.js
+++ b/examples/basic/simple_usage/index.js
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ class SimpleUsage extends Component {
           closeTimeoutMS={150}
           contentLabel="modalB"
           isOpen={currentModal == MODAL_B}
+          shouldCloseOnOverlayClick={false}
           onAfterOpen={this.handleOnAfterOpenModal}
           onRequestClose={this.toggleModal(MODAL_B)}>
           <h1 id="heading" ref={h1 => this.heading = h1}>This is the modal 2!</h1>
diff --git a/src/components/ModalPortal.js b/src/components/ModalPortal.js
index 823d3681..bf5d25f5 100644
--- a/src/components/ModalPortal.js
+++ b/src/components/ModalPortal.js
@@ -242,7 +242,10 @@ export default class ModalPortal extends Component {
     this.shouldClose = false;
   };
 
-  handleOverlayOnMouseDown = () => {
+  handleOverlayOnMouseDown = event => {
+    if (!this.props.shouldCloseOnOverlayClick) {
+      event.preventDefault();
+    }
     this.moveFromContentToOverlay = false;
   };