diff --git a/streaming/stream_session.cc b/streaming/stream_session.cc
index 3a666b4738..3aa484e43e 100644
--- a/streaming/stream_session.cc
+++ b/streaming/stream_session.cc
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ void stream_session::init_messaging_service_handler() {
     });
 }
 
+distributed<stream_session::handler> stream_session::_handlers;
+
 future<> stream_session::start() {
     return _handlers.start().then([this] {
         return _handlers.invoke_on_all([this] (handler& h) {
diff --git a/streaming/stream_session.hh b/streaming/stream_session.hh
index e47662065d..08af2eb214 100644
--- a/streaming/stream_session.hh
+++ b/streaming/stream_session.hh
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ private:
             return make_ready_future<>();
         }
     };
-    distributed<handler> _handlers;
+    static distributed<handler> _handlers;
     void init_messaging_service_handler();
     future<> start();
 public: