diff --git a/src/states.rs b/src/states.rs
index 9ecbb1c..ff4e54b 100644
--- a/src/states.rs
+++ b/src/states.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use assetpath::AssetPath;
 use std::any::Any;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, RwLock};
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, RwLock, Weak};
 
 pub trait FutureStateChange: Fn() -> Result<()> + Send + Sync {
     fn clone_box<'a>(&self) -> Box<dyn 'a + FutureStateChange>
@@ -45,74 +45,88 @@ struct State {
 /// only used for updating callbacks
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct StateHandle {
-    state: Arc<State>,
+    state: Weak<State>,
 }
 
 impl StateHandle {
     pub fn update<'a>(&self, update_type: StateUpdateType<'a>) -> Result<()> {
-        self.state.update(update_type)
+        self.state.upgrade().unwrap().update(update_type)
     }
 }
 
 impl GetElement<Button> for StateHandle {
     fn element(&self, id: &str) -> Result<Arc<Button>> {
-        match self.state.top_level_gui.elements() {
+        let state = self.state.upgrade().unwrap();
+
+        match state.top_level_gui.elements() {
             Some(elements) => elements.element(id),
-            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", self.state.name),
+            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", state.name),
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl GetElement<Grid> for StateHandle {
     fn element(&self, id: &str) -> Result<Arc<Grid>> {
-        match self.state.top_level_gui.elements() {
+        let state = self.state.upgrade().unwrap();
+
+        match state.top_level_gui.elements() {
             Some(elements) => elements.element(id),
-            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", self.state.name),
+            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", state.name),
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl GetElement<Label> for StateHandle {
     fn element(&self, id: &str) -> Result<Arc<Label>> {
-        match self.state.top_level_gui.elements() {
+        let state = self.state.upgrade().unwrap();
+
+        match state.top_level_gui.elements() {
             Some(elements) => elements.element(id),
-            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", self.state.name),
+            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", state.name),
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl GetElement<TextField> for StateHandle {
     fn element(&self, id: &str) -> Result<Arc<TextField>> {
-        match self.state.top_level_gui.elements() {
+        let state = self.state.upgrade().unwrap();
+
+        match state.top_level_gui.elements() {
             Some(elements) => elements.element(id),
-            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", self.state.name),
+            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", state.name),
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl GetElement<MultiLineTextField> for StateHandle {
     fn element(&self, id: &str) -> Result<Arc<MultiLineTextField>> {
-        match self.state.top_level_gui.elements() {
+        let state = self.state.upgrade().unwrap();
+
+        match state.top_level_gui.elements() {
             Some(elements) => elements.element(id),
-            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", self.state.name),
+            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", state.name),
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl GetElement<Icon> for StateHandle {
     fn element(&self, id: &str) -> Result<Arc<Icon>> {
-        match self.state.top_level_gui.elements() {
+        let state = self.state.upgrade().unwrap();
+
+        match state.top_level_gui.elements() {
             Some(elements) => elements.element(id),
-            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", self.state.name),
+            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", state.name),
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl GetElement<ProgressBar> for StateHandle {
     fn element(&self, id: &str) -> Result<Arc<ProgressBar>> {
-        match self.state.top_level_gui.elements() {
+        let state = self.state.upgrade().unwrap();
+
+        match state.top_level_gui.elements() {
             Some(elements) => elements.element(id),
-            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", self.state.name),
+            None => panic!("state ({}) has no elements", state.name),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -302,7 +316,7 @@ impl States {
     /// Retrieve a StateHandle
     pub fn state_handle(&self, id: &str) -> Result<StateHandle> {
         Ok(StateHandle {
-            state: self.get_state(id)?,
+            state: Arc::downgrade(&self.get_state(id)?),
         })
     }