diff --git a/gemsfx-demo/src/main/java/com/dlsc/gemsfx/demo/SelectionBoxApp.java b/gemsfx-demo/src/main/java/com/dlsc/gemsfx/demo/SelectionBoxApp.java
index 7aad0df7..5ad26deb 100644
--- a/gemsfx-demo/src/main/java/com/dlsc/gemsfx/demo/SelectionBoxApp.java
+++ b/gemsfx-demo/src/main/java/com/dlsc/gemsfx/demo/SelectionBoxApp.java
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ public class SelectionBoxApp extends Application {
 
     @Override
     public void start(Stage primaryStage) throws Exception {
+        selectionBox.show();
+
         SplitPane splitPane = new SplitPane();
         splitPane.setDividerPositions(0.7);
         splitPane.getItems().addAll(createControl(), getControlPanel());
@@ -40,6 +42,7 @@ public void start(Stage primaryStage) throws Exception {
     private Region createControl() {
         selectionBox.setPrefWidth(220);
         selectionBox.getItems().addAll("Item 1", "Item 2", "Item 3", "Option A", "Option B", "Option C", "Option D");
+        selectionBox.getSelectionModel().selectFirst();
         // selectionBox.setItemConverter(new SimpleStringConverter<>(s -> ">>" +s));
 
         StackPane wrapper = new StackPane(selectionBox);
@@ -48,6 +51,10 @@ private Region createControl() {
     }
 
     private Node getControlPanel() {
+        // show popup button
+        Button showButton = new Button("Show Popup");
+        showButton.setOnAction(e -> selectionBox.show());
+
         // selection mode
         ComboBox<SelectionMode> selectionModeComboBox = new ComboBox<>();
         selectionModeComboBox.getItems().addAll(SelectionMode.SINGLE, SelectionMode.MULTIPLE);
@@ -204,6 +211,7 @@ public List<String> fromString(String string) {
 
         return new SimpleControlPane(
                 "SelectionBox",
+                new SimpleControlPane.ControlItem("Show Popup", showButton),
                 new SimpleControlPane.ControlItem("Selection Mode", selectionModeComboBox),
                 new SimpleControlPane.ControlItem("Show Extra Buttons", visibleExtraButtonsCheckBox),
                 new SimpleControlPane.ControlItem("Change Extra Buttons", changeExtraButtonsButton),
diff --git a/gemsfx/src/main/java/com/dlsc/gemsfx/skins/SelectionBoxSkin.java b/gemsfx/src/main/java/com/dlsc/gemsfx/skins/SelectionBoxSkin.java
index 3e3712f6..372a021b 100644
--- a/gemsfx/src/main/java/com/dlsc/gemsfx/skins/SelectionBoxSkin.java
+++ b/gemsfx/src/main/java/com/dlsc/gemsfx/skins/SelectionBoxSkin.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import com.dlsc.gemsfx.CustomPopupControl;
 import com.dlsc.gemsfx.SelectionBox;
 import com.dlsc.gemsfx.util.UIUtil;
+import javafx.application.Platform;
 import javafx.beans.binding.Bindings;
 import javafx.beans.property.BooleanProperty;
 import javafx.beans.property.ReadOnlyBooleanProperty;
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ public class SelectionBoxSkin<T> extends SkinBase<SelectionBox<T>> {
     private static final String UPDATE_POPUP_CONTENT = "updatePopupContent";
     private static final String UPDATE_SELECTION_IN_POPUP = "updateSelectionInPopup";
     private static final String UPDATE_EXTRA_BUTTONS_POSITION = "updateExtraButtonsPosition";
+    private static final String SHOW_POPUP_PROPERTY = "showPopup";
 
     private final SelectionBox<T> control;
 
@@ -96,6 +98,16 @@ public SelectionBoxSkin(SelectionBox<T> control) {
         addListenerToControl();
 
         getChildren().addAll(displayLabel, arrowButton);
+
+        // Check during skin initialization if the popup should be displayed
+        if (control.getProperties().containsKey(SHOW_POPUP_PROPERTY)) {
+            if (Boolean.TRUE.equals(control.getProperties().get(SHOW_POPUP_PROPERTY))) {
+                Platform.runLater(this::showPopup);
+            } else {
+                hidePopup();
+            }
+            control.getProperties().remove(SHOW_POPUP_PROPERTY);
+        }
     }
 
     private void addListenerToControl() {
@@ -150,12 +162,13 @@ private void addListenerToControl() {
 
         control.getProperties().addListener((MapChangeListener<Object, Object>) change -> {
             if (change.wasAdded()) {
-                if (change.getKey().equals("showPopup")) {
+                if (change.getKey().equals(SHOW_POPUP_PROPERTY)) {
                     if (Boolean.TRUE.equals(change.getValueAdded())) {
                         showPopup();
                     } else {
                         hidePopup();
                     }
+                    control.getProperties().remove(SHOW_POPUP_PROPERTY);
                 }
             }
         });