diff --git a/src/cxx/versification.cc b/src/cxx/versification.cc
index fe4dd07..35202e1 100644
--- a/src/cxx/versification.cc
+++ b/src/cxx/versification.cc
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 #include "rust/cxx.h"
 
 namespace sword_rs {
+    sword::VersificationMgr* mgr = sword::VersificationMgr::getSystemVersificationMgr();
+
     Versification::Versification() :
         mgr(sword::VersificationMgr::getSystemVersificationMgr()) { }