diff --git a/src/node_crypto.cc b/src/node_crypto.cc
index d3fcb4c14ab03b..0408ff0b053759 100644
--- a/src/node_crypto.cc
+++ b/src/node_crypto.cc
@@ -152,7 +152,6 @@ const char* const root_certs[] = {
 std::string extra_root_certs_file;  // NOLINT(runtime/string)
 
 X509_STORE* root_cert_store;
-std::vector<X509*> root_certs_vector;
 
 // Just to generate static methods
 template class SSLWrap<TLSWrap>;
@@ -724,6 +723,7 @@ static int X509_up_ref(X509* cert) {
 
 
 static X509_STORE* NewRootCertStore() {
+  static std::vector<X509*> root_certs_vector;
   if (root_certs_vector.empty()) {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < arraysize(root_certs); i++) {
       BIO* bp = NodeBIO::NewFixed(root_certs[i], strlen(root_certs[i]));