diff --git a/lib/ajax-datatables-rails/base.rb b/lib/ajax-datatables-rails/base.rb
index be075f3..fba400c 100644
--- a/lib/ajax-datatables-rails/base.rb
+++ b/lib/ajax-datatables-rails/base.rb
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ def initialize(params, options = {})
       @options   = options
       @datatable = Datatable::Datatable.new(self)
 
+      @view_columns       = nil
       @connected_columns  = nil
       @searchable_columns = nil
       @search_columns     = nil