# Prevent filter from automatically filtering on page load when using a Custom Form Select dropdown as the only filter

**URL:** <https://forum.finsweet.com/t/prevent-filter-from-automatically-filtering-on-page-load-when-using-a-custom-form-select-dropdown-as-the-only-filter/3110>\
**Category:** Attributes\
**Tags:** cmsfilter, selectcustom\
**Created:** [July 9, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.finsweet.com/t/prevent-filter-from-automatically-filtering-on-page-load-when-using-a-custom-form-select-dropdown-as-the-only-filter/3110 "2024-07-09T15:46:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jon.thomas](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.finsweet.com/jon.thomas/32/2829_2.png) [@jon.thomas](https://forum.finsweet.com/u/jon.thomas)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.finsweet.com/t/prevent-filter-from-automatically-filtering-on-page-load-when-using-a-custom-form-select-dropdown-as-the-only-filter/3110/1 "2024-07-09T15:46:36Z")

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Hi there.

I’m using the Custom Form Select to generate a list of states. When the user chooses a state, I am showing a filtered list of contacts for that state. That works great. However, I want the initial state to be unselected. From what I can tell, the Select is auto-selected on page load, which submits the query. I’m looking for a way to prevent this.

The first option in my Select is “Choose a state” with no value attribute. When the page loads, this is the option that is automatically chosen, which triggers the Filter module on page load.

How can I prevent this?

I have enabled the Show Query option, which allows you to see that the query for “Choose a state” option is added on page load.

Here is a [read-only link to my project](https://preview.webflow.com/preview/rlicorp?utm_medium=preview_link&utm_source=designer&utm_content=rlicorp&preview=b80bb78bb604dcdf8f71491911be1830&pageId=667c5a6892c91d8c59ba9a3d&workflow=preview).

One solution I’ve come across is to leave the first Option blank…

```auto
<option></option>

```

…but then the label for the custom dropdown that mirrors the Select is also blank.

Additionally, it appears that the Initial State feature will not work in this scenario either.

 ![Screenshot by Dropbox Capture](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/finsweet1/original/2X/0/0c737ace4c9ddb3ca458a71941d1721162d535b6.png)

Would love any assistance or insight you can provide!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jon.thomas](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.finsweet.com/jon.thomas/32/2829_2.png) [@jon.thomas](https://forum.finsweet.com/u/jon.thomas)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://forum.finsweet.com/t/prevent-filter-from-automatically-filtering-on-page-load-when-using-a-custom-form-select-dropdown-as-the-only-filter/3110/2 "2024-07-09T19:52:38Z")

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I _think_ I was able to get this to work by using CMS Select as well. I was originally building a Select using a custom element.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Support-Luis](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.finsweet.com/support-luis/32/53_2.png) [@Support-Luis](https://forum.finsweet.com/u/Support-Luis)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 10:54am UTC](https://forum.finsweet.com/t/prevent-filter-from-automatically-filtering-on-page-load-when-using-a-custom-form-select-dropdown-as-the-only-filter/3110/3 "2024-07-10T10:54:30Z")

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Hey, @jon.thomas! I also think you got it working as it should!

I don’t see the `Choose+a+state` parameter any more on page load 💪