diff --git a/include/notcurses.h b/include/notcurses.h
index c93009883..d7d45cb6a 100644
--- a/include/notcurses.h
+++ b/include/notcurses.h
@@ -2210,13 +2210,15 @@ API void ncselector_destroy(struct ncselector* n, char** item);
 // a screen resize, menus will be automatically moved/resized. Elements can be
 // dynamically enabled or disabled at all levels (menu, section, and item),
 
+struct ncmenu_item {
+  char* desc;           // utf-8 menu item, NULL for horizontal separator
+  ncinput shortcut;     // shortcut, all should be distinct
+};
+
 struct ncmenu_section {
   char* name;             // utf-8 c string
-  struct ncmenu_item {
-    char* desc;           // utf-8 menu item, NULL for horizontal separator
-    ncinput shortcut;     // shortcut, all should be distinct
-  }* items;
   int itemcount;
+  struct ncmenu_item* items;
   int xoff;               // used only in library copy, ignored in request
   int bodycols;           // used only in library copy, ignored in request
   int itemselected;       // used only in library copy, ignored in request
diff --git a/tests/menu.cpp b/tests/menu.cpp
index 58f9c5aba..3d53dcd57 100644
--- a/tests/menu.cpp
+++ b/tests/menu.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,23 @@ TEST_CASE("MenuTest") {
     ncmenu_destroy(ncm);
   }
 
+  SUBCASE("MenuOneSection") {
+    struct ncmenu_item file_items[] = {
+      { .desc = strdup("I would like a new file"), .shortcut = {}, },
+    };
+    struct ncmenu_section sections[] = {
+      { .name = strdup("File"), .itemcount = sizeof(file_items) / sizeof(*file_items), .items = file_items,
+        .xoff = -1, .bodycols = -1, .itemselected = -1, },
+    };
+    struct ncmenu_options opts{};
+    opts.sections = sections;
+    opts.sectioncount = sizeof(sections) / sizeof(*sections);
+    struct ncmenu* ncm = ncmenu_create(nc_, &opts);
+    REQUIRE(nullptr != ncm);
+    CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
+    ncmenu_destroy(ncm);
+  }
+
   CHECK(0 == notcurses_stop(nc_));
   CHECK(0 == fclose(outfp_));
 }