diff --git a/src/ripple/server/impl/BaseWSPeer.h b/src/ripple/server/impl/BaseWSPeer.h
index ca1656e7b..2573e6c7d 100644
--- a/src/ripple/server/impl/BaseWSPeer.h
+++ b/src/ripple/server/impl/BaseWSPeer.h
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ BaseWSPeer(
         io_service, journal)
     , request_(std::move(request))
     , timer_(io_service)
+    , payload_ ("12345678") // ensures size is 8 bytes
 {
 }