diff --git a/curses/curses_misc.py b/curses/curses_misc.py
index f75b546..925c34b 100644
--- a/curses/curses_misc.py
+++ b/curses/curses_misc.py
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ class ComboBox(urwid.WidgetWrap):
         if urwid.VERSION < (1, 1, 0):
             self.focus = focus
         else:
-            self.focus_position = focus
+            self._w.focus_position = focus
 
         self.callback = callback
         self.user_args = user_args
@@ -368,7 +368,10 @@ class ComboBox(urwid.WidgetWrap):
         if urwid.VERSION < (1, 1, 0):
             self.focus = index
         else:
-            self.focus_position = index
+            try:
+                self._w.focus_position = index
+            except IndexError:
+                pass
 
         # API changed between urwid 0.9.8.4 and 0.9.9
         try:
@@ -386,7 +389,7 @@ class ComboBox(urwid.WidgetWrap):
         if urwid.VERSION < (1, 1, 0):
             index = self.focus
         else:
-            index = self.focus_position
+            index = self._w.focus_position
 
         self.cbox = DynWrap(SelText([self.list[index]+self.DOWN_ARROW]),
                 attrs=self.attrs,focus_attr=self.focus_attr)
@@ -434,7 +437,7 @@ class ComboBox(urwid.WidgetWrap):
             if urwid.VERSION < (1, 1, 0):
                 return None, self.focus
             else:
-                return None, self.focus_position
+                return None, self._w.focus_position
 
     def get_sensitive(self):
         return self.cbox.get_sensitive()