diff --git a/jquery.flot.js b/jquery.flot.js
index 3bedcb5..500e690 100644
--- a/jquery.flot.js
+++ b/jquery.flot.js
@@ -2801,8 +2801,22 @@ Licensed under the MIT license.
                 }
 
                 if (s.bars.show && !item) { // no other point can be nearby
-                    var barLeft = s.bars.align == "left" ? 0 : -s.bars.barWidth/2,
-                        barRight = barLeft + s.bars.barWidth;
+
+                    switch (s.bars.align) {
+                        case "left":
+                            barLeft = 0;
+                            break;
+                        case "right":
+                            barLeft = -s.bars.barWidth;
+                            break;
+                        case "center":
+                            barLeft = -s.bars.barWidth / 2;
+                            break;
+                        default:
+                            throw new Error("Invalid bar alignment: " + s.bars.align);
+                    }
+
+                    barRight = barLeft + s.bars.barWidth;
 
                     for (j = 0; j < points.length; j += ps) {
                         var x = points[j], y = points[j + 1], b = points[j + 2];
@@ -3000,7 +3014,21 @@ Licensed under the MIT license.
         function drawBarHighlight(series, point) {
             var highlightColor = (typeof series.highlightColor === "string") ? series.highlightColor : $.color.parse(series.color).scale('a', 0.5).toString(),
                 fillStyle = highlightColor,
-                barLeft = series.bars.align == "left" ? 0 : -series.bars.barWidth/2;
+                barLeft;
+
+            switch (series.bars.align) {
+                case "left":
+                    barLeft = 0;
+                    break;
+                case "right":
+                    barLeft = -series.bars.barWidth;
+                    break;
+                case "center":
+                    barLeft = -series.bars.barWidth / 2;
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    throw new Error("Invalid bar alignment: " + series.bars.align);
+            }
 
             octx.lineWidth = series.bars.lineWidth;
             octx.strokeStyle = highlightColor;