diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a1b862c..f0bac9d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ There are more [examples] to look at as well.
 | `toolbar`    | boolean  | `false` |       |
 | `top`        | integer  | `0`     |       |
 | `width`      | integer  | `500`   |       |
+| `forcerefresh`|boolean  | `true`  | if popup is still open it will refresh the window. If the user clicked a link and was taken to a different page, they will be taken back to the original page. Likewise, if the user has entered text on a form or performed some action that needed saved, they will lose any unsaved work.
 
 ## License
 
diff --git a/jquery.popupwindow.js b/jquery.popupwindow.js
index 79ed5a6..8f7fb80 100644
--- a/jquery.popupwindow.js
+++ b/jquery.popupwindow.js
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@
     status:      false,
     toolbar:     false,
     top:         0,
-    width:       500
+    width:       500,
+    forcerefresh:true
   };
 
   $.popupWindow = function(url, opts) {
@@ -45,15 +46,43 @@
     params.push('left=' + options.left);
     params.push('top=' + options.top);
 
-    // open window
+    // define name
     var random = new Date().getTime();
     var name = options.name || (options.createNew ? 'popup_window_' + random : 'popup_window');
-    var win = window.open(url, name, params.join(','));
+
+    // setup list of handles if needed, and check if win handle exists
+    var winPOS = -1;
+    if (!$.popupWindow.win) { $.popupWindow.win = []; }
+    for (var i = 0, len = $.popupWindow.win.length; i < len; i++) {
+      if ($.popupWindow.win[i].name === name) { winPOS = i; break; }
+    }      
+
+    // add to list of handles if it didnt already exist
+    var winHref;
+    if (winPOS === -1) {
+      $.popupWindow.win.push({ name: name, win: { closed: true } });
+      winPOS = $.popupWindow.win.length - 1;
+      
+      // try regaining access to the handle, if user refreshed but didnt close all popups
+      // this will fail if its of a different origin
+      $.popupWindow.win[winPOS].win = window.open("", name, params.join(','));
+      try { winHref = $.popupWindow.win[winPOS].win.location.href; } catch (e) { }
+    }
+        
+    // determine whether to open window
+    // the user wants to always refresh, the handle says its closed, the href is a new page
+    // winHref could be 3 possible values
+    // 1. undefined - this failed the assignment above, due to different origin - dont reload url
+    // 2. some url - this passed the assignment above, must be same origin - dont reload url
+    // 3. about:blank - the window didnt exist and the user now has a blank window - reload url
+    if (options.forcerefresh || $.popupWindow.win[winPOS].win.closed || winHref === "about:blank") {
+      $.popupWindow.win[winPOS].win = window.open(url, name, params.join(','));
+    }
 
     // unload handler
     if (options.onUnload && typeof options.onUnload === 'function') {
-      var unloadInterval = setInterval(function() {
-        if (!win || win.closed) {
+      var unloadInterval = setInterval(function () {
+        if (!$.popupWindow.win[winPOS].win || $.popupWindow.win[winPOS].win.closed) {
           clearInterval(unloadInterval);
           options.onUnload();
         }
@@ -61,11 +90,11 @@
     }
 
     // focus window
-    if (win && win.focus) {
-      win.focus();
-    }
+    if ($.popupWindow.win[winPOS].win && $.popupWindow.win[winPOS].win.focus) {
+      $.popupWindow.win[winPOS].win.focus();
+    }       
 
     // return handle to window
-    return win;
+    return $.popupWindow.win[winPOS].win;
   };
 })(jQuery);