diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 9a39811c28..482539b8e8 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -1049,6 +1049,7 @@ void Application::initialize(const QCommandLineParser &parser) {
     _octreeProcessor = std::make_shared<OctreePacketProcessor>();
     _entityEditSender = std::make_shared<EntityEditPacketSender>();
     _graphicsEngine = std::make_shared<GraphicsEngine>();
+    _applicationOverlay = std::make_shared<ApplicationOverlay>();
 
 
 
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.h b/interface/src/Application.h
index e848e5e100..69d167d27b 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.h
+++ b/interface/src/Application.h
@@ -217,8 +217,8 @@ public:
 
     ivec2 getMouse() const;
 
-    ApplicationOverlay& getApplicationOverlay() { return _applicationOverlay; }
-    const ApplicationOverlay& getApplicationOverlay() const { return _applicationOverlay; }
+    ApplicationOverlay& getApplicationOverlay() { return *_applicationOverlay; }
+    const ApplicationOverlay& getApplicationOverlay() const { return *_applicationOverlay; }
     CompositorHelper& getApplicationCompositor() const;
 
     Overlays& getOverlays() { return _overlays; }
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ private:
     bool _disableLoginScreen { true };
 
     Overlays _overlays;
-    ApplicationOverlay _applicationOverlay;
+    std::shared_ptr<ApplicationOverlay> _applicationOverlay;
     OverlayConductor _overlayConductor;
 
     DialogsManagerScriptingInterface* _dialogsManagerScriptingInterface = new DialogsManagerScriptingInterface();