diff --git a/xo-unit/include/xo/unit/bu_store.hpp b/xo-unit/include/xo/unit/bu_store.hpp
index a06d5b4f..2997b442 100644
--- a/xo-unit/include/xo/unit/bu_store.hpp
+++ b/xo-unit/include/xo/unit/bu_store.hpp
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ namespace xo {
          *  Extending the contents of this store at runtime is not supported,
          *  in favor of preserving constexpr abbreviations.
          **/
-        static constexpr detail::bu_store bu_abbrev_store;
+        static constexpr detail::bu_store bu_abbrev_store = detail::bu_store();
 
         /** @brief get abbreviation for basis-unit @p bu **/
         constexpr bu_abbrev_type