diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 23a86b5..cea69cc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -38,6 +38,16 @@
   };
   ```
 
+3. (Optional) Set the initial value for the router state:
+
+  ```ts
+  StoreModule.provideStore({ router: routerReducer }, {
+    router: {
+      path: window.location.pathname + window.location.search
+    }
+  })
+  ```
+
 ### Dispatching Actions
 
   ```ts
diff --git a/karma.conf.js b/karma.conf.js
index 61cbf8b..ce17641 100644
--- a/karma.conf.js
+++ b/karma.conf.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 var path = require('path');
+var webpack = require('webpack');
 
 module.exports = function(karma) {
   'use strict';
@@ -41,28 +42,25 @@ module.exports = function(karma) {
     webpack: {
       devtool: 'inline-source-map',
       resolve: {
-        root: __dirname,
-        extensions: ['', '.ts', '.js']
+        extensions: ['.ts', '.js']
       },
       module: {
-        preLoaders: [
+        loaders: [
           {
+            enforce: 'pre',
             test: /\.ts$/,
             loader: 'tslint-loader',
             exclude: [
               /node_modules/
             ]
-          }
-        ],
-        loaders: [
+          },
           {
             test: /\.ts?$/,
             exclude: /(node_modules)/,
-            loader: 'ts'
-          }
-        ],
-        postLoaders: [
+            loader: 'awesome-typescript-loader'
+          },
           {
+            enforce: 'post',
             test: /\.(js|ts)$/, loader: 'istanbul-instrumenter',
             include: path.resolve(__dirname, 'src'),
             exclude: [
@@ -72,11 +70,17 @@ module.exports = function(karma) {
           }
         ]
       },
-      tslint: {
-        emitErrors: false,
-        failOnHint: false,
-        resourcePath: 'src'
-      }
+      plugins: [
+        new webpack.LoaderOptionsPlugin({
+          options: {
+            tslint: {
+              emitErrors: false,
+              failOnHint: false,
+              resourcePath: 'src'
+            }
+          }
+        })
+      ]
     }
   });
 };
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 82020e7..3c2c3fa 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -69,12 +69,11 @@
     "rollup": "^0.34.13",
     "rxjs": "^5.0.0-beta.12",
     "source-map-loader": "^0.1.5",
-    "ts-loader": "^0.8.2",
     "tslint": "^3.15.1",
     "tslint-loader": "^2.1.5",
     "typescript": "^2.0.2",
     "uglifyjs": "^2.4.10",
-    "webpack": "^2.1.0-beta.21",
+    "webpack": "^2.1.0-beta.25",
     "zone.js": "^0.6.17"
   }
 }
diff --git a/spec/reducer.spec.ts b/spec/reducer.spec.ts
index ceebc07..10b4411 100644
--- a/spec/reducer.spec.ts
+++ b/spec/reducer.spec.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ describe('routerReducer', function() {
   it('should have an initial state', function() {
     const action = { type: 'unknown' };
 
-    expect(routerReducer(initialState, action)).toEqual({ path: null });
+    expect(routerReducer(initialState, action)).toEqual({ path: '' });
   });
 
   it('should completely replace the state when a new location is pushed', function() {
diff --git a/src/reducer.ts b/src/reducer.ts
index 04997f4..6f391ae 100644
--- a/src/reducer.ts
+++ b/src/reducer.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ export interface RouterState {
 }
 
 export const initialState: RouterState = {
-  path: null
+  path: ''
 };
 
 export function routerReducer(state: RouterState = initialState, action: Action): RouterState {