diff --git a/include/modules/niri/backend.hpp b/include/modules/niri/backend.hpp
index 42b9ff7f..07be039a 100644
--- a/include/modules/niri/backend.hpp
+++ b/include/modules/niri/backend.hpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class EventHandler {
 
 class IPC {
  public:
-  IPC() { startIPC(); }
+  IPC();
 
   void registerForIPC(const std::string& ev, EventHandler* ev_handler);
   void unregisterForIPC(EventHandler* handler);
diff --git a/src/modules/niri/backend.cpp b/src/modules/niri/backend.cpp
index 5284e0be..ce96c51c 100644
--- a/src/modules/niri/backend.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/niri/backend.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 
 namespace waybar::modules::niri {
 
+IPC::IPC() { startIPC(); }
+
 int IPC::connectToSocket() {
   const char* socket_path = getenv("NIRI_SOCKET");