diff --git a/src/select2.js b/src/select2.js
index 828032d..c7d8db2 100644
--- a/src/select2.js
+++ b/src/select2.js
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ angular.module('ui.select2', []).value('uiSelect2Config', {}).directive('uiSelec
               if (opts.multiple) {
                 var viewValue = controller.$viewValue;
                 if (angular.isString(viewValue)) {
-                  viewValue = viewValue.split(',');
+                  viewValue = viewValue.split(opts.separator);
                 }
                 elm.select2(
                   'data', convertToSelect2Model(viewValue));