diff --git a/jbmc/unit/java_bytecode/java_bytecode_convert_method/convert_method.cpp b/jbmc/unit/java_bytecode/java_bytecode_convert_method/convert_method.cpp
index 0eaaa9fee75..2e2e6e9bac7 100644
--- a/jbmc/unit/java_bytecode/java_bytecode_convert_method/convert_method.cpp
+++ b/jbmc/unit/java_bytecode/java_bytecode_convert_method/convert_method.cpp
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ SCENARIO(
 {
   symbol_tablet symbol_table;
   java_string_library_preprocesst string_preprocess;
-  const class_hierarchyt class_hierarchy;
+  const class_hierarchyt class_hierarchy{};
   java_bytecode_convert_methodt converter{symbol_table,
                                           null_message_handler,
                                           10,