diff --git a/src/core/drive/visit.ts b/src/core/drive/visit.ts
index 7c4ea55ed..32e68f89d 100644
--- a/src/core/drive/visit.ts
+++ b/src/core/drive/visit.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export type VisitOptions = {
   shouldCacheSnapshot: boolean
   frame?: string
   acceptsStreamResponse: boolean
-  initiator?: Element
+  initiator: Element
 }
 
 const defaultOptions: VisitOptions = {
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ const defaultOptions: VisitOptions = {
   updateHistory: true,
   shouldCacheSnapshot: true,
   acceptsStreamResponse: false,
+  initiator: document.documentElement,
 }
 
 export type VisitResponse = {
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ export class Visit implements FetchRequestDelegate {
   readonly willRender: boolean
   readonly updateHistory: boolean
   readonly promise: Promise<void>
-  readonly initiator?: Element
+  readonly initiator: Element
 
   private resolvingFunctions!: ResolvingFunctions<void>