<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <style> option {color: green} option[selected]:disabled ~ option:not([disabled]):not(:disabled) {color: red} </style> </head> <body onload='var e1 = document.getElementById("one"); e1.parentNode.removeChild(e1); document.getElementById("zero").setAttribute("selected", "true");'> <select size="4" id="selection"> <option id="zero">Should be no red</option> <option id="one" selected="true" disabled="disabled">Should be no red</option> <option id="two">Should be no red</option> <option id="three">Should be no red</option> </select> </body> </html>