diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 47d05fc6..eb73cb6d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -306,12 +306,10 @@ For example, the path `/rooms/chat?user=jane` will be translated to a state obje
 
 ```js
 {
-  stale: true,
   routes: [
     {
       name: 'rooms',
       state: {
-        stale: true,
         routes: [
           {
             name: 'chat',
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/BaseRouter.test.tsx b/packages/core/src/__tests__/BaseRouter.test.tsx
index f90dffe7..930891df 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/BaseRouter.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/BaseRouter.test.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import * as BaseActions from '../BaseActions';
 jest.mock('shortid', () => () => 'test');
 
 const STATE = {
+  stale: false as false,
   key: 'root',
   index: 1,
   routes: [
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ it('replaces focused screen with REPLACE', () => {
   );
 
   expect(result).toEqual({
+    stale: false,
     key: 'root',
     index: 1,
     routes: [
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@ it('replaces source screen with REPLACE', () => {
   });
 
   expect(result).toEqual({
+    stale: false,
     key: 'root',
     index: 1,
     routes: [
@@ -66,6 +69,7 @@ it('sets params for the focused screen with SET_PARAMS', () => {
   );
 
   expect(result).toEqual({
+    stale: false,
     key: 'root',
     index: 1,
     routes: [
@@ -84,6 +88,7 @@ it('sets params for the source screen with SET_PARAMS', () => {
   });
 
   expect(result).toEqual({
+    stale: false,
     key: 'root',
     index: 1,
     routes: [
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/NavigationContainer.test.tsx b/packages/core/src/__tests__/NavigationContainer.test.tsx
index 49e10fe2..566fca46 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/NavigationContainer.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/NavigationContainer.test.tsx
@@ -296,7 +296,6 @@ it('handle resetting state with ref', () => {
   render(element).update(element);
 
   const state = {
-    stale: true,
     index: 1,
     routes: [
       {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/__fixtures__/MockRouter.tsx b/packages/core/src/__tests__/__fixtures__/MockRouter.tsx
index dbf13e1d..e430ebf1 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/__fixtures__/MockRouter.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/__fixtures__/MockRouter.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ export default function MockRouter(options: DefaultRouterOptions) {
           : routeNames.indexOf(options.initialRouteName);
 
       return {
+        stale: false,
         key: String(MockRouterKey.current++),
         index,
         routeNames,
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ export default function MockRouter(options: DefaultRouterOptions) {
     getRehydratedState(partialState, { routeNames, routeParamList }) {
       let state = partialState;
 
-      if (!state.stale) {
+      if (state.stale === false) {
         return state as NavigationState;
       }
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/getStateFromPath.test.tsx b/packages/core/src/__tests__/getStateFromPath.test.tsx
index dde0695f..c0361719 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/getStateFromPath.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/getStateFromPath.test.tsx
@@ -6,17 +6,14 @@ it('converts path string to initial state', () => {
       'foo/bar/baz%20qux?author=%22jane%20%26%20co%22&valid=true'
     )
   ).toEqual({
-    stale: true,
     routes: [
       {
         name: 'foo',
         state: {
-          stale: true,
           routes: [
             {
               name: 'bar',
               state: {
-                stale: true,
                 routes: [
                   {
                     name: 'baz qux',
@@ -34,12 +31,10 @@ it('converts path string to initial state', () => {
 
 it('handles leading slash when converting', () => {
   expect(getStateFromPath('/foo/bar/?count=42')).toEqual({
-    stale: true,
     routes: [
       {
         name: 'foo',
         state: {
-          stale: true,
           routes: [
             {
               name: 'bar',
@@ -54,12 +49,10 @@ it('handles leading slash when converting', () => {
 
 it('handles ending slash when converting', () => {
   expect(getStateFromPath('foo/bar/?count=42')).toEqual({
-    stale: true,
     routes: [
       {
         name: 'foo',
         state: {
-          stale: true,
           routes: [
             {
               name: 'bar',
@@ -74,12 +67,10 @@ it('handles ending slash when converting', () => {
 
 it('handles route without param', () => {
   expect(getStateFromPath('foo/bar')).toEqual({
-    stale: true,
     routes: [
       {
         name: 'foo',
         state: {
-          stale: true,
           routes: [{ name: 'bar' }],
         },
       },
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx b/packages/core/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
index 61a6afff..1a5b6039 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ it('initializes state for a navigator on navigation', () => {
 
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledTimes(1);
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledWith({
+    stale: false,
     index: 0,
     key: '0',
     routeNames: ['foo', 'bar', 'baz'],
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ it('initializes state for nested screens in React.Fragment', () => {
 
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledTimes(1);
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledWith({
+    stale: false,
     index: 0,
     key: '0',
     routeNames: ['foo', 'bar', 'baz'],
@@ -189,6 +191,7 @@ it('initializes state for nested navigator on navigation', () => {
 
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledTimes(1);
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledWith({
+    stale: false,
     index: 2,
     key: '0',
     routeNames: ['foo', 'bar', 'baz'],
@@ -199,6 +202,7 @@ it('initializes state for nested navigator on navigation', () => {
         key: 'baz',
         name: 'baz',
         state: {
+          stale: false,
           index: 0,
           key: '1',
           routeNames: ['qux'],
@@ -302,6 +306,7 @@ it('cleans up state when the navigator unmounts', () => {
 
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledTimes(1);
   expect(onStateChange).lastCalledWith({
+    stale: false,
     index: 0,
     key: '0',
     routeNames: ['foo', 'bar'],
@@ -353,6 +358,7 @@ it('allows arbitrary state updates by dispatching a function', () => {
 
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledTimes(1);
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledWith({
+    stale: false,
     index: 1,
     key: '0',
     routeNames: ['foo', 'bar'],
@@ -390,6 +396,7 @@ it('updates route params with setParams', () => {
 
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledTimes(1);
   expect(onStateChange).lastCalledWith({
+    stale: false,
     index: 0,
     key: '0',
     routeNames: ['foo', 'bar'],
@@ -403,6 +410,7 @@ it('updates route params with setParams', () => {
 
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledTimes(2);
   expect(onStateChange).lastCalledWith({
+    stale: false,
     index: 0,
     key: '0',
     routeNames: ['foo', 'bar'],
@@ -441,6 +449,7 @@ it('handles change in route names', () => {
   );
 
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledWith({
+    stale: false,
     index: 0,
     key: '0',
     routeNames: ['foo', 'baz', 'qux'],
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/useOnAction.test.tsx b/packages/core/src/__tests__/useOnAction.test.tsx
index 257af0d3..22e873fd 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/useOnAction.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/useOnAction.test.tsx
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ it("lets parent handle the action if child didn't", () => {
 
   expect(onStateChange).toBeCalledTimes(1);
   expect(onStateChange).lastCalledWith({
+    stale: false,
     index: 2,
     key: '0',
     routeNames: ['foo', 'bar', 'baz'],
diff --git a/packages/core/src/getStateFromPath.tsx b/packages/core/src/getStateFromPath.tsx
index da482249..85659a81 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/getStateFromPath.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/getStateFromPath.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ export default function getStateFromPath(
 
   while (segments.length) {
     const state = {
-      stale: true,
       routes: [{ name: decodeURIComponent(segments[0]) }],
     };
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/types.tsx b/packages/core/src/types.tsx
index 3a0fa020..acb349f0 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/types.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/types.tsx
@@ -24,20 +24,19 @@ export type NavigationState = {
   /**
    * Whether the navigation state has been rehydrated.
    */
-  stale?: false;
+  stale: false;
 };
 
 export type InitialState = Partial<
   Omit<NavigationState, 'stale' | 'routes'>
 > & {
-  stale?: boolean;
   routes: Array<Omit<Route<string>, 'key'> & { state?: InitialState }>;
 };
 
 export type PartialState<State extends NavigationState> = Partial<
   Omit<State, 'stale' | 'key' | 'routes' | 'routeNames'>
 > & {
-  stale?: boolean;
+  stale?: true;
   routes: Array<
     Omit<Route<string>, 'key'> & { key?: string; state?: InitialState }
   >;
@@ -128,7 +127,7 @@ export type Router<
    * @param options.routeParamsList Object containing params for each route.
    */
   getRehydratedState(
-    partialState: PartialState<State>,
+    partialState: PartialState<State> | State,
     options: {
       routeNames: string[];
       routeParamList: ParamListBase;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/useNavigationBuilder.tsx b/packages/core/src/useNavigationBuilder.tsx
index c1a37ed9..7b2e1058 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/useNavigationBuilder.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/useNavigationBuilder.tsx
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ export default function useNavigationBuilder<
     // If the state isn't initialized, or stale, use the state we initialized instead
     // The state won't update until there's a change needed in the state we have initalized locally
     // So it'll be `undefined` or stale untill the first navigation event happens
-    currentState === undefined || currentState.stale
+    currentState === undefined || currentState.stale !== false
       ? (initializedStateRef.current as State)
       : (currentState as State);
 
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ export default function useNavigationBuilder<
   const getState = React.useCallback((): State => {
     const currentState = getCurrentState();
 
-    return currentState === undefined || currentState.stale
+    return currentState === undefined || currentState.stale !== false
       ? (initializedStateRef.current as State)
       : (currentState as State);
   }, [getCurrentState]);
diff --git a/packages/example/src/index.tsx b/packages/example/src/index.tsx
index 3dc56448..afbe579b 100644
--- a/packages/example/src/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/example/src/index.tsx
@@ -72,13 +72,11 @@ export default function App() {
       const state = getStateFromPath(path);
 
       return {
-        stale: true,
         routes: [
           {
             name: 'root',
             state: {
               ...state,
-              stale: true,
               routes: [{ name: 'home' }, ...(state ? state.routes : [])],
             },
           },
diff --git a/packages/routers/src/DrawerRouter.tsx b/packages/routers/src/DrawerRouter.tsx
index 62d10077..83c3cea1 100644
--- a/packages/routers/src/DrawerRouter.tsx
+++ b/packages/routers/src/DrawerRouter.tsx
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ export default function DrawerRouter(
           : routeNames.indexOf(options.initialRouteName);
 
       return {
+        stale: false,
         key: `drawer-${shortid()}`,
         index,
         routeNames,
@@ -69,8 +70,8 @@ export default function DrawerRouter(
     },
 
     getRehydratedState(partialState, { routeNames, routeParamList }) {
-      if (!partialState.stale) {
-        return partialState as DrawerNavigationState;
+      if (partialState.stale === false) {
+        return partialState;
       }
 
       const state = router.getRehydratedState(partialState, {
diff --git a/packages/routers/src/StackRouter.tsx b/packages/routers/src/StackRouter.tsx
index 4b09fc42..66ec24ce 100644
--- a/packages/routers/src/StackRouter.tsx
+++ b/packages/routers/src/StackRouter.tsx
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ export default function StackRouter(options: StackRouterOptions) {
           : routeNames[0];
 
       return {
+        stale: false,
         key: `stack-${shortid()}`,
         index: 0,
         routeNames,
@@ -70,8 +71,8 @@ export default function StackRouter(options: StackRouterOptions) {
     getRehydratedState(partialState, { routeNames, routeParamList }) {
       let state = partialState;
 
-      if (!state.stale) {
-        return state as StackNavigationState;
+      if (state.stale === false) {
+        return state;
       }
 
       const routes = state.routes
diff --git a/packages/routers/src/TabRouter.tsx b/packages/routers/src/TabRouter.tsx
index cb5f800d..cceb1112 100644
--- a/packages/routers/src/TabRouter.tsx
+++ b/packages/routers/src/TabRouter.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import shortid from 'shortid';
 import {
   CommonAction,
   BaseRouter,
+  PartialState,
   NavigationState,
   DefaultRouterOptions,
   Router,
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ export default function TabRouter({
           : routeNames.indexOf(initialRouteName);
 
       return {
+        stale: false,
         key: `tab-${shortid()}`,
         index,
         routeNames,
@@ -75,12 +77,14 @@ export default function TabRouter({
     getRehydratedState(partialState, { routeNames, routeParamList }) {
       let state = partialState;
 
-      if (!state.stale) {
-        return state as TabNavigationState;
+      if (state.stale === false) {
+        return state;
       }
 
       const routes = routeNames.map(name => {
-        const route = state.routes.find(r => r.name === name);
+        const route = (state as PartialState<TabNavigationState>).routes.find(
+          r => r.name === name
+        );
 
         return {
           ...route,