diff --git a/lib/network/modules/SelectionHandler.js b/lib/network/modules/SelectionHandler.js
index 59376c54..9fc83efd 100644
--- a/lib/network/modules/SelectionHandler.js
+++ b/lib/network/modules/SelectionHandler.js
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ class SelectionHandler {
         this.selectionObj.edges[edgeId].unselect();
       }
     }
-  
+
     this.selectionObj = {nodes:{},edges:{}};
   }
 
@@ -601,6 +601,44 @@ class SelectionHandler {
     return idArray;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Updates the current selection
+   * @param {{nodes: Array.<String>, edges: Array.<String>}} Selection
+   * @param {Object} options                                 Options
+   */
+  setSelection(selection, options = {}) {
+    let i, id;
+
+    if (!selection || !selection.nodes || !selection.edges)
+      throw 'Selection must be an object with nodes and edges properties';
+    // first unselect any selected node
+    if (options.unselectAll || options.unselectAll === undefined) {
+      this.unselectAll();
+    }
+
+    for (i = 0; i < selection.nodes.length; i++) {
+      id = selection.nodes[i];
+
+      let node = this.body.nodes[id];
+      if (!node) {
+        throw new RangeError('Node with id "' + id + '" not found');
+      }
+      // don't select edges with it
+      this.selectObject(node, options.highlightEdges);
+    }
+
+    for (i = 0; i < selection.edges.length; i++) {
+      id = selection.edges[i];
+
+      let edge = this.body.edges[id];
+      if (!edge) {
+        throw new RangeError('Edge with id "' + id + '" not found');
+      }
+      this.selectObject(edge);
+    }
+    this.body.emitter.emit('_requestRedraw');
+  }
+
 
   /**
    * select zero or more nodes with the option to highlight edges
@@ -610,23 +648,11 @@ class SelectionHandler {
    */
   selectNodes(selection, highlightEdges = true) {
     let i, id;
-  
+
     if (!selection || (selection.length === undefined))
       throw 'Selection must be an array with ids';
-  
-    // first unselect any selected node
-    this.unselectAll();
-  
-    for (i = 0; i < selection.length; i++) {
-      id = selection[i];
-  
-      let node = this.body.nodes[id];
-      if (!node) {
-        throw new RangeError('Node with id "' + id + '" not found');
-      }
-      this.selectObject(node,highlightEdges);
-    }
-    this.body.emitter.emit('_requestRedraw');
+
+    this.setSelection({nodes: selection, edges: []}, {highlightEdges: highlightEdges});
   }
 
 
@@ -637,23 +663,11 @@ class SelectionHandler {
    */
   selectEdges(selection) {
     let i, id;
-  
+
     if (!selection || (selection.length === undefined))
       throw 'Selection must be an array with ids';
-  
-    // first unselect any selected objects
-    this.unselectAll();
-  
-    for (i = 0; i < selection.length; i++) {
-      id = selection[i];
-  
-      let edge = this.body.edges[id];
-      if (!edge) {
-        throw new RangeError('Edge with id "' + id + '" not found');
-      }
-      this.selectObject(edge);
-    }
-    this.body.emitter.emit('_requestRedraw');
+
+    this.setSelection({nodes: [], edges: selection});
   }
 
   /**