diff --git a/libsrc/meshing/meshclass.cpp b/libsrc/meshing/meshclass.cpp
index 356192fc..a40deef9 100644
--- a/libsrc/meshing/meshclass.cpp
+++ b/libsrc/meshing/meshclass.cpp
@@ -5768,6 +5768,7 @@ namespace netgen
     materials.Elem(domnr) = new string(mat);
   }
 
+  string Mesh :: defaultmat = "default";
   const string & Mesh :: GetMaterial (int domnr) const
   {
     if (domnr <= materials.Size())
diff --git a/libsrc/meshing/meshclass.hpp b/libsrc/meshing/meshclass.hpp
index 40d8ebb4..4cf9c605 100644
--- a/libsrc/meshing/meshclass.hpp
+++ b/libsrc/meshing/meshclass.hpp
@@ -593,9 +593,9 @@ namespace netgen
     DLL_HEADER void SetMaterial (int domnr, const string & mat);
     ///
     const string & GetMaterial (int domnr) const;
+    static string defaultmat;
     const string * GetMaterialPtr (int domnr) const // 1-based
     {
-      static string defaultmat = "default";
       return domnr <= materials.Size() ? materials.Get(domnr) : &defaultmat;
     }