diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 7d27baf4..30d17cab 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ function choo (opts) {
   // create a new router with a custom `createRoute()` function
   // (str?, obj) -> null
   function createRouter (routerOpts, routes, createSend) {
-    var prev = {}
+    var prev = null
     if (!routes) {
       routes = routerOpts
       routerOpts = {}
@@ -129,9 +129,11 @@ function choo (opts) {
           const nwPrev = prev
           prev = state
 
+          console.log('params', params)
+
           // TODO(yw): find a way to wrap handlers so params shows up in state
           const nwState = xtend(state)
-          nwState.location = xtend(nwPrev.location, { params: params })
+          nwState.location = xtend(nwState.location, { params: params })
 
           if (opts.freeze !== false) Object.freeze(nwState)
           return handler(nwState, nwPrev, send)