diff --git a/ir.cpp b/ir.cpp
index ad93310bc90..3166cdc9eff 100644
--- a/ir.cpp
+++ b/ir.cpp
@@ -26,13 +26,6 @@
 #include "ir.h"
 #include "glsl_types.h"
 
-ir_instruction::ir_instruction(int mode)
-{
-   this->mode = mode;
-   make_empty_list(this);
-}
-
-
 ir_assignment::ir_assignment(ir_instruction *lhs, ir_instruction *rhs,
 			     ir_expression *condition)
    : ir_instruction(ir_op_assign)
diff --git a/ir.h b/ir.h
index a4cc1d8b94f..7de7c385323 100644
--- a/ir.h
+++ b/ir.h
@@ -53,7 +53,11 @@ public:
    virtual void accept(ir_visitor *) = 0;
 
 protected:
-   ir_instruction(int mode);
+   ir_instruction(int mode)
+      : mode(mode)
+   {
+      /* empty */
+   }
 
 private:
    /**