diff --git a/lib/components/Modal.js b/lib/components/Modal.js
index 43401344..3bd28dd5 100644
--- a/lib/components/Modal.js
+++ b/lib/components/Modal.js
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ var Modal = React.createClass({
     onRequestClose: React.PropTypes.func,
     closeTimeoutMS: React.PropTypes.number,
     ariaHideApp: React.PropTypes.bool,
-    shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: React.PropTypes.bool
+    shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: React.PropTypes.bool,
+    role: React.PropTypes.string
   },
 
   getDefaultProps: function () {
diff --git a/specs/Modal.spec.js b/specs/Modal.spec.js
index 66453bd7..31b9a22b 100644
--- a/specs/Modal.spec.js
+++ b/specs/Modal.spec.js
@@ -58,9 +58,9 @@ describe('Modal', function () {
     unmountModal();
   });
 
-  it('renders the modal content with a dialog aria role ', function () {
+  it('renders the modal content with a dialog aria role when provided ', function () {
     var child = 'I am a child of Modal, and he has sent me here...';
-    var component = renderModal({isOpen: true}, child);
+    var component = renderModal({isOpen: true, role: 'dialog'}, child);
     equal(component.portal.refs.content.getAttribute('role'), 'dialog');
     unmountModal();
   });