diff --git a/packages/ui/component.js b/packages/ui/component.js
index 00542d53ef..c78295e8b2 100644
--- a/packages/ui/component.js
+++ b/packages/ui/component.js
@@ -682,6 +682,9 @@ RootComponent = Component.extend({
     this.stage = Component.ADDED;
 
     this._uid = Random.id();
+
+    // this would normally be called upon "add"
+    this.init();
   },
   render: function (buf) {
     var bodyClass = this.getArg('bodyClass');