diff --git a/lib/portal.js b/lib/portal.js
index 6497991..c4fcf66 100644
--- a/lib/portal.js
+++ b/lib/portal.js
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ export default class Portal extends React.Component {
 
   constructor() {
     super();
-    this.state = { active: false };
     this.handleWrapperClick = this.handleWrapperClick.bind(this);
     this.closePortal = this.closePortal.bind(this);
     this.handleOutsideMouseClick = this.handleOutsideMouseClick.bind(this);
@@ -37,19 +36,19 @@ export default class Portal extends React.Component {
     // portal's 'is open' state is handled through the prop isOpen
     if (typeof newProps.isOpen !== 'undefined') {
       if (newProps.isOpen) {
-        if (this.state.active) {
+        if (this.active) {
           this.renderPortal(newProps);
         } else {
           this.openPortal(newProps);
         }
       }
-      if (!newProps.isOpen && this.state.active) {
+      if (!newProps.isOpen && this.active) {
         this.closePortal();
       }
     }
 
     // portal handles its own 'is open' state
-    if (typeof newProps.isOpen === 'undefined' && this.state.active) {
+    if (typeof newProps.isOpen === 'undefined' && this.active) {
       this.renderPortal(newProps);
     }
   }
@@ -70,12 +69,12 @@ export default class Portal extends React.Component {
   handleWrapperClick(e) {
     e.preventDefault();
     e.stopPropagation();
-    if (this.state.active) { return; }
+    if (this.active) { return; }
     this.openPortal();
   }
 
   openPortal(props = this.props) {
-    this.setState({ active: true });
+    this.active = true;
     this.renderPortal(props, true);
   }
 
@@ -88,11 +87,11 @@ export default class Portal extends React.Component {
       this.portal = null;
       this.node = null;
       if (isUnmounted !== true) {
-        this.setState({ active: false });
+        this.active = false;
       }
     };
 
-    if (this.state.active) {
+    if (this.active) {
       if (this.props.beforeClose) {
         this.props.beforeClose(this.node, resetPortalState);
       } else {
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ export default class Portal extends React.Component {
   }
 
   handleOutsideMouseClick(e) {
-    if (!this.state.active) { return; }
+    if (!this.active) { return; }
 
     const root = findDOMNode(this.portal);
     if (root.contains(e.target) || (e.button && e.button !== 0)) { return; }
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ export default class Portal extends React.Component {
   }
 
   handleKeydown(e) {
-    if (e.keyCode === KEYCODES.ESCAPE && this.state.active) {
+    if (e.keyCode === KEYCODES.ESCAPE && this.active) {
       this.closePortal();
     }
   }