diff --git a/components/select.inc b/components/select.inc
index eb0fb69..2cf75f3 100644
--- a/components/select.inc
+++ b/components/select.inc
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ function _webform_edit_select($component) {
     '#type' => 'checkbox',
     '#title' => t('Listbox'),
     '#default_value' => $component['extra']['aslist'],
-    '#description' => t('Check this option if you want the select component to be of listbox type instead of radio buttons or checkboxes.'),
+    '#description' => t('Check this option if you want the select component to be of listbox type instead of radio buttons or checkboxes. Will be checked automatically if you are using option groups.'),
     '#parents' => array('extra', 'aslist'),
   );
   $form['display']['optrand'] = array(
diff --git a/includes/webform.components.inc b/includes/webform.components.inc
index 24f0082..126bf3a 100644
--- a/includes/webform.components.inc
+++ b/includes/webform.components.inc
@@ -624,6 +624,17 @@ function webform_component_edit_form_validate($form, &$form_state) {
  * Submit handler for webform_component_edit_form().
  */
 function webform_component_edit_form_submit($form, &$form_state) {
+  // If it is a select component and the options include option groups, set aslist.
+  if ($form_state['values']['type'] === 'select' && !empty($form_state['values']['extra']['items'])) {
+    foreach (_webform_select_options_from_text($form_state['values']['extra']['items']) as $option) {
+      if (is_array($option)) {
+        $form_state['values']['extra']['aslist'] = 1;
+        drupal_set_message('You have used option groups, which are only supported by the listbox control type. This component has been set to use a listbox.', 'warning');
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   // Ensure a webform record exists.
   $node = node_load($form_state['values']['nid']);
   webform_ensure_record($node);