diff --git a/panel/widgets/base.py b/panel/widgets/base.py
index 0d0582e8fb..1a6867f61c 100644
--- a/panel/widgets/base.py
+++ b/panel/widgets/base.py
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@ class CompositeWidget(Widget):
     __abstract = True
 
     def __init__(self, **params):
+        self._composite = self._composite_type()
         super().__init__(**params)
         layout_params = [p for p in Layoutable.param if p != 'name']
         layout = {p: getattr(self, p) for p in layout_params
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ def __init__(self, **params):
             min_width = layout.pop('width')
             if not layout.get('min_width'):
                 layout['min_width'] = min_width
-        self._composite = self._composite_type(**layout)
+        self._composite.param.update(**layout)
         self._models = self._composite._models
         self._internal_callbacks.append(
             self.param.watch(self._update_layout_params, layout_params)