diff --git a/src/pane-container.coffee b/src/pane-container.coffee
index 535e55607..07083263a 100644
--- a/src/pane-container.coffee
+++ b/src/pane-container.coffee
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ class PaneContainer extends Model
   atom.deserializers.add(this)
   Serializable.includeInto(this)
 
+  @version: 1
+
   @properties
     root: -> new Pane
     activePane: null
@@ -27,10 +29,12 @@ class PaneContainer extends Model
   deserializeParams: (params) ->
     params.root = atom.deserializers.deserialize(params.root, container: this)
     params.destroyEmptyPanes = atom.config.get('core.destroyEmptyPanes')
+    params.activePane = params.root.getPanes().find (pane) -> pane.id is params.activePaneId
     params
 
   serializeParams: (params) ->
     root: @root?.serialize()
+    activePaneId: @activePane.id
 
   replaceChild: (oldChild, newChild) ->
     throw new Error("Replacing non-existent child") if oldChild isnt @root
diff --git a/src/pane.coffee b/src/pane.coffee
index f09bcc90f..84947bbb7 100644
--- a/src/pane.coffee
+++ b/src/pane.coffee
@@ -40,14 +40,12 @@ class Pane extends Model
     @subscribe @items.onRemoval (item, index) =>
       @unsubscribe item if typeof item.on is 'function'
 
-    @activate() if params?.active
-
   # Called by the Serializable mixin during serialization.
   serializeParams: ->
+    id: @id
     items: compact(@items.map((item) -> item.serialize?()))
     activeItemUri: @activeItem?.getUri?()
     focused: @focused
-    active: @active
 
   # Called by the Serializable mixin during deserialization.
   deserializeParams: (params) ->