diff --git a/src/TextAnnotator.jsx b/src/TextAnnotator.jsx
index f08aeba..2a26a33 100644
--- a/src/TextAnnotator.jsx
+++ b/src/TextAnnotator.jsx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export default class TextAnnotator extends Component {
   componentDidMount() {
     this.highlighter = new Highlighter(this.props.contentEl, this.props.formatter);
 
-    this.selectionHandler = new SelectionHandler(this.props.contentEl, this.highlighter);
+    this.selectionHandler = new SelectionHandler(this.props.contentEl, this.highlighter, this.props.readOnly);
     this.selectionHandler.on('select', this.handleSelect);
 
     this.relationsLayer = new RelationsLayer(this.props.contentEl);
diff --git a/src/selection/SelectionHandler.js b/src/selection/SelectionHandler.js
index 5b1a843..1c3e63b 100644
--- a/src/selection/SelectionHandler.js
+++ b/src/selection/SelectionHandler.js
@@ -5,11 +5,12 @@ const IS_TOUCH = 'ontouchstart' in window || navigator.maxTouchPoints > 0;
 
 export default class SelectionHandler extends EventEmitter {
 
-  constructor(element, highlighter) {
+  constructor(element, highlighter, readOnly) {
     super();
 
     this.el = element;
     this.highlighter = highlighter;
+    this.readOnly = readOnly;
 
     this.isEnabled = true;
 
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ export default class SelectionHandler extends EventEmitter {
           // De-select
           this.emit('select', {});
         }
-      } else {
+      } else if (!this.readOnly) {
         const selectedRange = trimRange(selection.getRangeAt(0));
 
         // Make sure the selection is entirely inside this.el