diff --git a/source/blender/editors/object/object_select.c b/source/blender/editors/object/object_select.c
index f1a906f36dd..8e3d613e02e 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/object/object_select.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/object/object_select.c
@@ -999,7 +999,9 @@ static int object_select_name_exec(bContext *C, wmOperator *op)
 	}
 
 	CTX_DATA_BEGIN(C, Base*, base, selectable_bases) {
+		/* this is a bit dodjy, there should only be ONE object with this name, but library objects can mess this up */
 		if(strcmp(name, base->object->id.name+2)==0) {
+			ED_base_object_activate(C, base);
 			ED_base_object_select(base, BA_SELECT);
 			changed= 1;
 		}