diff --git a/transporthandler.cpp b/transporthandler.cpp
index 0b5a00c..24fea47 100644
--- a/transporthandler.cpp
+++ b/transporthandler.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@
 #error filesystem not available
 #endif
 
-extern std::unique_ptr<phosphor::Timer> networkTimer;
+// timer for network changes
+std::unique_ptr<phosphor::Timer> networkTimer = nullptr;
 
 const int SIZE_MAC = 18; // xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
 constexpr auto ipv4Protocol = "xyz.openbmc_project.Network.IP.Protocol.IPv4";