a4j:commandButton click works only if it is the first click on the page

Question

I am upgrading to JSF RichFaces 4.

<h:panelGrid width="100%" columnClasses="closeWindow">
    <a4j:commandButton value="#{applicationController.bundle.closeWindow}"
                       action="#{clienteController.closeWindow}"
                       render="clientesForm :customerPanel"
                       oncomplete="#{rich:component('clienteDetalhePanel')}.hide();" />
</h:panelGrid>

This is a button on a rich:popupPanel. The action method gets called for every click. But, the oncomplete( panel getting hidden) only works if this is the first click on the page. If I do any thing else on the page, like save , and then click this button, then the panel is not hidden anymore. It just stays there.

Please note I have been following BalusC's instructions to avoid the view state getting lost, which was my original problem, but that was fixed by adding form and panel to the render. But now I have this problem.

Please help.