Just so that I understand the mechanism, basically I have to transit into the initial state child-state-A1 , and deep_history will know that it actually needs to go through child-state-A2 on its way there. correct? <http://www.boost.org/libs/statechart/doc/reference.html#ClassTemplatedeep_history> No, the template parameter you pass to sc::deep_history is the *default* *state*, which is entered when no history information is available. If history information is available, then the last exited child-state of parent-state-A is entered. Whether or not the default state also happens to be the initial state is irrelevant. HTH, -- Andreas Huber When replying by private email, please remove the words spam and trap from the address shown in the header.