diff --git a/Sortable.js b/Sortable.js
index 30dd630670f964aeee1645e7bb2a6438daa05b7b..0f87f828c6dfb5e6a647a372739229186a450dbc 100644
--- a/Sortable.js
+++ b/Sortable.js
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@
 				dataTransfer.setData('Text', dragEl.textContent);
 			}
 		},
-		group;
+
+		group = options.group;
 
 
 		// Set default options
@@ -114,10 +115,9 @@
 		}
 
 
-		if (!options.group.name) {
-			options.group = { name: options.group };
+		if (!group || typeof group != 'object') {
+			group = options.group = { name: group };
 		}
-		group = options.group;
 
 
 		['pull', 'put'].forEach(function (key) {
@@ -450,7 +450,10 @@
 				isOwner = (activeGroup === group),
 				canSort = options.sort;
 
-			(evt.stopPropagation !== void 0) && evt.stopPropagation();
+			if (evt.preventDefault !== void 0) {
+				evt.preventDefault();
+				evt.stopPropagation();
+			}
 
 			if (!_silent && activeGroup &&
 				(isOwner