diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/state/reducers/pages.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/state/reducers/pages.js
index 78ec0addd970..1565e73da91b 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/state/reducers/pages.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/state/reducers/pages.js
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ export const pagesReducer = handleActions(
           newState = addPage(newState);
         }
 
-        if (wasOnlyPage) {
+        if (wasOnlyPage || curIndex === 0) {
           newState = set(newState, 'page', 0);
           gotoPage(1);
         } else if (wasSelected || delIndex < curIndex) {