 <p>for anyone having the same problem, I've managed to fix it starting from scratch on the code and using this: <a href="http://jsfiddle.net/tuando/CA8KV/1/" rel="nofollow">http://jsfiddle.net/tuando/CA8KV/1/</a></p> <pre><code>$("#accordion").accordion(); $(".section-link").click(function (e) { e.preventDefault(); $("#accordion").accordion("activate", $(this).parent().index()); }); </code></pre> <p>​</p> <p>Excellent and lightweight solution.</p> <p>Thanks to anyone who looked into it.</p>