diff --git a/dist/ionic.filter.bar.js b/dist/ionic.filter.bar.js
index b7e9e87..5dd056d 100644
--- a/dist/ionic.filter.bar.js
+++ b/dist/ionic.filter.bar.js
@@ -448,6 +448,11 @@ angular.module('jett.ionic.filter.bar', ['ionic']);
             scope.config.theme = getNavBarTheme(scope.container.querySelector('.bar.bar-header'));
           }
 
+          //allow placeholder overwrites
+          if (opts.placeholder && opts.placeholder != '') {
+            scope.config.placeholder = opts.placeholder;
+          }
+          
           // Compile the template
           var element = scope.element = $compile('<ion-filter-bar class="filter-bar"></ion-filter-bar>')(scope);
 
diff --git a/js/ionic.filter.bar.service.js b/js/ionic.filter.bar.service.js
index aca79a1..1ada238 100644
--- a/js/ionic.filter.bar.service.js
+++ b/js/ionic.filter.bar.service.js
@@ -134,6 +134,11 @@
           if (!scope.config.theme) {
             scope.config.theme = getNavBarTheme(scope.container.querySelector('.bar.bar-header'));
           }
+          
+          //allow placeholder overwrites
+          if (opts.placeholder && opts.placeholder != '') {
+            scope.config.placeholder = opts.placeholder;
+          }
 
           // Compile the template
           var element = scope.element = $compile('<ion-filter-bar class="filter-bar"></ion-filter-bar>')(scope);