diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4de80cf..de8a9ee 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ or as an [ES7 class decorator](https://github.com/wycats/javascript-decorators)
     -   `options.className` **[string](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String)=** Control the class name set on the wrapper `<div>`
     -   `options.elementResize` **[boolean](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Boolean)=** Set true to watch the wrapper `div` for changes in
         size which are not a result of window resizing - e.g. changes to the flexbox and other layout. (optional, default `false`)
+    -   `options.withRef` **[boolean](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Boolean)=** Set true to enable accessing the wrapped instance with
+        [getWrappedInstance()](https://github.com/digidem/react-dimensions#getwrappedinstance). Disable this when wrapping stateless components, as they cannot use `refs`. (optional, default `true`)
 
 **Examples**
 
diff --git a/example.jsx b/example.jsx
index 7c78736..08b7224 100644
--- a/example.jsx
+++ b/example.jsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class MyComponent extends React.Component {
       }}>
       {`${this.props.containerWidth}px x ${this.props.containerHeight}px`}
       </div>
-		)
+    )
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/index.jsx b/index.jsx
index 35f3ae5..6cc4faa 100644
--- a/index.jsx
+++ b/index.jsx
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ module.exports = function Dimensions ({
     getDimensions = defaultGetDimensions,
     debounce = 0,
     debounceOpts = {},
-    elementResize = false
+    elementResize = false,
+    withRef = true
   } = {}) {
   return (ComposedComponent) => {
     return class DimensionsHOC extends React.Component {
@@ -152,6 +153,9 @@ module.exports = function Dimensions ({
        * @return {object} The rendered React component
        **/
       getWrappedInstance () {
+        if (!withRef) {
+          console.warn('You need to enable the `withRef` option to access the wrapped instance')
+        }
         return this.refs.wrappedInstance
       }
 
@@ -173,7 +177,7 @@ module.exports = function Dimensions ({
                 {...this.state}
                 {...this.props}
                 updateDimensions={this.updateDimensions}
-                ref='wrappedInstance'
+                ref={withRef && 'wrappedInstance'}
               />
             }
           </div>