diff --git a/lib/runner.js b/lib/runner.js
index 039065a2e0..b6e6e1f24a 100644
--- a/lib/runner.js
+++ b/lib/runner.js
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ Runner.prototype.run = function (fn) {
   var rootSuite = this.suite;
 
   // If there is an `only` filter
-  if (this.hasOnly) {
+  if (hasOnly(rootSuite)) {
     filterOnly(rootSuite);
   }
 
diff --git a/mocha.js b/mocha.js
index 2ad1356722..57fcf07ab6 100644
--- a/mocha.js
+++ b/mocha.js
@@ -5319,7 +5319,7 @@ Runner.prototype.run = function (fn) {
   var rootSuite = this.suite;
 
   // If there is an `only` filter
-  if (this.hasOnly) {
+  if (hasOnly(rootSuite)) {
     filterOnly(rootSuite);
   }