diff --git a/tests/visibility-sensor-spec.jsx b/tests/visibility-sensor-spec.jsx
index 742dad1..b4a8a79 100644
--- a/tests/visibility-sensor-spec.jsx
+++ b/tests/visibility-sensor-spec.jsx
@@ -371,6 +371,24 @@ describe("VisibilitySensor", function() {
     ReactDOM.render(element, node);
   });
 
+  it("should return visible if the sensor has no size but contents size is not required", function (done) {
+    var firstTime = true;
+    var onChange = function (isVisible) {
+      if (firstTime) {
+        assert.equal(isVisible, true, "Component is visible");
+        done();
+      }
+    };
+
+    var element = (
+      <VisibilitySensor onChange={onChange} requireContentsSize={false}>
+        <div style={{ height: "0px", width: "0px" }} />
+      </VisibilitySensor>
+    );
+
+    ReactDOM.render(element, node);
+  });
+
   it("should not return visible if the sensor is hidden", function(done) {
     var firstTime = true;
     var onChange = function(isVisible) {
diff --git a/visibility-sensor.js b/visibility-sensor.js
index 067b3c4..72fbcac 100644
--- a/visibility-sensor.js
+++ b/visibility-sensor.js
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ export default class VisibilitySensor extends React.Component {
     delayedCall: false,
     offset: {},
     containment: null,
-    children: <span />
+    children: <span />,
+    requireContentsSize: true
   };
 
   static propTypes = {
@@ -70,7 +71,8 @@ export default class VisibilitySensor extends React.Component {
         ? PropTypes.instanceOf(window.Element)
         : PropTypes.any,
     children: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.element, PropTypes.func]),
-    minTopValue: PropTypes.number
+    minTopValue: PropTypes.number,
+    requireContentsSize: PropTypes.bool
   };
 
   constructor(props) {
@@ -268,15 +270,19 @@ export default class VisibilitySensor extends React.Component {
     // https://github.com/joshwnj/react-visibility-sensor/pull/114
     const hasSize = rect.height > 0 && rect.width > 0;
 
+    // Only register the rect as visible if it has size, unless requireContentsSize is false
+    const shouldDetectSize = hasSize || !this.props.requireContentsSize;
+
+
     let isVisible =
-      hasSize &&
+      shouldDetectSize  &&
       visibilityRect.top &&
       visibilityRect.left &&
       visibilityRect.bottom &&
       visibilityRect.right;
 
     // check for partial visibility
-    if (hasSize && this.props.partialVisibility) {
+    if (shouldDetectSize  && this.props.partialVisibility) {
       let partialVisible =
         rect.top <= containmentRect.bottom &&
         rect.bottom >= containmentRect.top &&