diff --git a/include/ftxui/component/container.hpp b/include/ftxui/component/container.hpp
index 97c6d20e..51395ed3 100644
--- a/include/ftxui/component/container.hpp
+++ b/include/ftxui/component/container.hpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class Container : public Component {
   RenderHandler render_handler_;
 
   int selected_ = 0;
-  int* selector_ = &selected_;
+  int* selector_ = nullptr;
 };
 
 }  // namespace ftxui
diff --git a/src/ftxui/component/container.cpp b/src/ftxui/component/container.cpp
index b9743c49..b4b26c5c 100644
--- a/src/ftxui/component/container.cpp
+++ b/src/ftxui/component/container.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ bool Container::OnEvent(Event event) {
 Component* Container::ActiveChild() {
   if (children_.size() == 0)
     return nullptr;
-  return children_[*selector_ % children_.size()];
+
+  int selected = selector_ ? *selector_ : selected_;
+  return children_[selected % children_.size()];
 }
 
 bool Container::VerticalEvent(Event event) {