diff --git a/src/libutil/hash.cc b/src/libutil/hash.cc
index 448eb25f9..2087e3464 100644
--- a/src/libutil/hash.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/hash.cc
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ static size_t regularHashSize(HashType type) {
     abort();
 }
 
-void Hash::init()
+Hash::Hash(HashType type) : type(type)
 {
     hashSize = regularHashSize(type);
     assert(hashSize <= maxHashSize);
diff --git a/src/libutil/hash.hh b/src/libutil/hash.hh
index 887952ce5..766009438 100644
--- a/src/libutil/hash.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/hash.hh
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ struct Hash
     HashType type;
 
     /* Create a zero-filled hash object. */
-    Hash(HashType type) : type(type) { init(); };
+    Hash(HashType type);
 
     /* Initialize the hash from a string representation, in the format
        "[<type>:]<base16|base32|base64>" or "<type>-<base64>" (a
@@ -49,8 +49,6 @@ private:
     // type must be provided, s must not include <type> prefix
     Hash(std::string_view s, std::pair<HashType, bool> typeAndSRI);
 
-    void init();
-
 public:
     /* Check whether a hash is set. */
     operator bool () const { return (bool) type; }