diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8b298443..c3903968 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -272,6 +272,15 @@ test('selectOptions', () => {
 The `values` parameter can be either an array of values or a singular scalar
 value.
 
+It also accepts option nodes:
+
+```js
+userEvent.selectOptions(screen.getByTestId('select-multiple'), [
+  screen.getByText('A'),
+  screen.getByText('B'),
+])
+```
+
 ### `tab({shift, focusTrap})`
 
 Fires a tab event changing the document.activeElement in the same way the
diff --git a/src/__tests__/selectoptions.js b/src/__tests__/selectoptions.js
index 05fe624e..899b3a50 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/selectoptions.js
+++ b/src/__tests__/selectoptions.js
@@ -168,6 +168,33 @@ test('sets the selected prop on the selected OPTION', () => {
   expect(screen.getByTestId('val3').selected).toBe(true)
 })
 
+test('sets the selected prop on the selected OPTION using nodes', () => {
+  render(
+    <form onSubmit={() => {}}>
+      <select multiple data-testid="element">
+        <option data-testid="val1" value="1">
+          first option
+        </option>
+        <option data-testid="val2" value="2">
+          second option
+        </option>
+        <option data-testid="val3" value="3">
+          third option
+        </option>
+      </select>
+    </form>,
+  )
+
+  userEvent.selectOptions(screen.getByTestId('element'), [
+    screen.getByText('second option'),
+    screen.getByText('third option'),
+  ])
+
+  expect(screen.getByTestId('val1').selected).toBe(false)
+  expect(screen.getByTestId('val2').selected).toBe(true)
+  expect(screen.getByTestId('val3').selected).toBe(true)
+})
+
 test('sets the selected prop on the selected OPTION using htmlFor', () => {
   const onSubmit = jest.fn()
 
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 4d74d6cd..390a3f77 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ function selectOptions(element, values, init) {
   const valArray = Array.isArray(values) ? values : [values]
   const selectedOptions = Array.from(
     element.querySelectorAll('option'),
-  ).filter(opt => valArray.includes(opt.value))
+  ).filter(opt => valArray.includes(opt.value) || valArray.includes(opt))
 
   if (selectedOptions.length > 0) {
     if (element.multiple) {
diff --git a/typings/index.d.ts b/typings/index.d.ts
index cf3cc768..e61d5725 100644
--- a/typings/index.d.ts
+++ b/typings/index.d.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ declare const userEvent: {
   clear: (element: TargetElement) => void
   click: (element: TargetElement, init?: MouseEventInit) => void
   dblClick: (element: TargetElement, init?: MouseEventInit) => void
-  selectOptions: (element: TargetElement, values: string | string[], init?: MouseEventInit) => void
+  selectOptions: (
+    element: TargetElement,
+    values: string | string[] | HTMLElement | HTMLElement[],
+    init?: MouseEventInit,
+  ) => void
   upload: (
     element: TargetElement,
     files: FilesArgument,