diff --git a/howdy/src/pam/optional_task.hh b/howdy/src/pam/optional_task.hh
index 39b60a4..c6da379 100644
--- a/howdy/src/pam/optional_task.hh
+++ b/howdy/src/pam/optional_task.hh
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ public:
 
 template <typename T>
 optional_task<T>::optional_task(std::function<T()> func)
-    : task(std::packaged_task<T()>(std::move(func))), future(task.get_future()),
-      spawned(), is_active() {}
+    : task(std::packaged_task<T()>(std::move(func))), future(task.get_future()) {}
 
 // Create a new thread and launch the task on it.
 template <typename T> void optional_task<T>::activate() {