diff --git a/slic/gui/daqframe.py b/slic/gui/daqframe.py
index b4f95813..6120bd0f 100644
--- a/slic/gui/daqframe.py
+++ b/slic/gui/daqframe.py
@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@ class DAQFrame(wx.Frame):
         notebook.AddPage(panel_static, "Static")
         notebook.AddPage(panel_scan, "Scan")
 
-        last_page = notebook.GetPageCount() - 1 # start on last page (Scan)
-        notebook.SetSelection(last_page)
+        panel_main.SetSelection(-1) # start on last page (Scan)
 
         # make sure the window is large enough
         sizer = wx.BoxSizer(wx.VERTICAL)
diff --git a/slic/gui/widgets.py b/slic/gui/widgets.py
index a925f3f1..a2b6e89c 100644
--- a/slic/gui/widgets.py
+++ b/slic/gui/widgets.py
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ class NotebookPanel(wx.Panel): #TODO: This needs work
         sizer.Add(notebook)
         self.SetSizer(sizer)
 
+    def SetSelection(self, num):
+        nb = self.notebook
+        ntotal = nb.GetPageCount()
+        num %= ntotal # allow counting from the back using negative numbers
+        nb.SetSelection(num)
+
 #    def __getattr__(self, name):
 #        return getattr(self.notebook, name)