diff --git a/pyboy/core/cartridge/base_mbc.pxd b/pyboy/core/cartridge/base_mbc.pxd
index 4ed1d3cf8..9f0f978e4 100644
--- a/pyboy/core/cartridge/base_mbc.pxd
+++ b/pyboy/core/cartridge/base_mbc.pxd
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ cdef class BaseMBC:
     cdef bint rambank_initialized
     cdef uint16_t rambank_selected
     cdef uint16_t rombank_selected
+    cdef uint8_t[:] rombank_0
     cdef uint8_t[:] rombank_view
     cdef uint8_t[:] rambank_view
     cdef bint cgb
diff --git a/pyboy/core/cartridge/base_mbc.py b/pyboy/core/cartridge/base_mbc.py
index 97613d80c..bae3ad7ba 100644
--- a/pyboy/core/cartridge/base_mbc.py
+++ b/pyboy/core/cartridge/base_mbc.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ def __init__(self, filename, rombanks, external_ram_count, carttype, sram, batte
         self.rambank_view = self.rambanks[self.rambank_selected]
         self.rombank_selected = 1
         self.rombank_view = self.rombanks[self.rombank_selected]
+        self.rombank_0 = self.rombanks[0]
 
         self.cgb = bool(self.getitem(0x0143) >> 7)
 
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ def overrideitem(self, rom_bank, address, value):
 
     def getitem(self, address):
         if 0x0000 <= address < 0x4000:
-            return self.rombanks[0, address]
+            return self.rombank_0[address]
         elif 0x4000 <= address < 0x8000:
             # return self.rombanks[self.rombank_selected, address - 0x4000]
             return self.rombank_view[address - 0x4000]