diff --git a/Pod/Classes/SideMenuAnimationController.swift b/Pod/Classes/SideMenuAnimationController.swift
index b484b8ca..aa6ff8d3 100644
--- a/Pod/Classes/SideMenuAnimationController.swift
+++ b/Pod/Classes/SideMenuAnimationController.swift
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ internal final class SideMenuAnimationController: NSObject, UIViewControllerAnim
     private weak var containerView: UIView?
     private let leftSide: Bool
     private weak var originalSuperview: UIView?
-    private var presentationController: SideMenuPresentationController!
+    private var presentationController: SideMenuPresentationController?
     private unowned var presentedViewController: UIViewController?
     private unowned var presentingViewController: UIViewController?
     weak var delegate: SideMenuAnimationControllerDelegate?
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ internal final class SideMenuAnimationController: NSObject, UIViewControllerAnim
     }
 
     func layout() {
-        presentationController.containerViewWillLayoutSubviews()
+        presentationController?.containerViewWillLayoutSubviews()
     }
 }
 
@@ -131,25 +131,25 @@ private extension SideMenuAnimationController {
         // prevent any other menu gestures from firing
         containerView?.isUserInteractionEnabled = false
         if presenting {
-            presentationController.presentationTransitionWillBegin()
+            presentationController?.presentationTransitionWillBegin()
         } else {
-            presentationController.dismissalTransitionWillBegin()
+            presentationController?.dismissalTransitionWillBegin()
         }
     }
 
     func transition(presenting: Bool) {
         if presenting {
-            presentationController.presentationTransition()
+            presentationController?.presentationTransition()
         } else {
-            presentationController.dismissalTransition()
+            presentationController?.dismissalTransition()
         }
     }
 
     func transitionDidEnd(presenting: Bool, completed: Bool) {
         if presenting {
-            presentationController.presentationTransitionDidEnd(completed)
+            presentationController?.presentationTransitionDidEnd(completed)
         } else {
-            presentationController.dismissalTransitionDidEnd(completed)
+            presentationController?.dismissalTransitionDidEnd(completed)
         }
         containerView?.isUserInteractionEnabled = true
     }