diff --git a/ion/include/ion/storage.h b/ion/include/ion/storage.h
index 851222b53..e18607612 100644
--- a/ion/include/ion/storage.h
+++ b/ion/include/ion/storage.h
@@ -86,8 +86,6 @@ public:
     uint32_t m_fullNameCRC32;
   };
 
-  Storage();
-
 #if ION_STORAGE_LOG
   void log();
 #endif
@@ -126,6 +124,8 @@ private:
   constexpr static uint32_t Magic = 0xEE0BDDBA;
   constexpr static size_t k_maxRecordSize = (1 << sizeof(record_size_t)*8);
 
+  Storage();
+
   /* Getters/Setters on recordID */
   const char * fullNameOfRecord(const Record record);
   Record::ErrorStatus setFullNameOfRecord(const Record record, const char * fullName);
diff --git a/ion/src/shared/storage.cpp b/ion/src/shared/storage.cpp
index 75fd7d747..95a9fd29d 100644
--- a/ion/src/shared/storage.cpp
+++ b/ion/src/shared/storage.cpp
@@ -28,10 +28,7 @@ constexpr char Storage::seqExtension[];
 constexpr char Storage::eqExtension[];
 
 Storage * Storage::sharedStorage() {
-  static Storage * storage = nullptr;
-  if (storage == nullptr) {
-    storage = new (staticStorageArea) Storage();
-  }
+  static Storage * storage = new (staticStorageArea) Storage();
   return storage;
 }
 
@@ -90,20 +87,6 @@ Storage::Record::Record(const char * basename, int basenameLength, const char *
 
 // STORAGE
 
-Storage::Storage() :
-  m_magicHeader(Magic),
-  m_buffer(),
-  m_magicFooter(Magic),
-  m_delegate(nullptr),
-  m_lastRecordRetrieved(nullptr),
-  m_lastRecordRetrievedPointer(nullptr)
-{
-  assert(m_magicHeader == Magic);
-  assert(m_magicFooter == Magic);
-  // Set the size of the first record to 0
-  overrideSizeAtPosition(m_buffer, 0);
-}
-
 #if ION_STORAGE_LOG
 void Storage::log() {
   for (char * p : *this) {
@@ -305,6 +288,22 @@ void Storage::destroyRecordsWithExtension(const char * extension) {
   }
 }
 
+// PRIVATE
+
+Storage::Storage() :
+  m_magicHeader(Magic),
+  m_buffer(),
+  m_magicFooter(Magic),
+  m_delegate(nullptr),
+  m_lastRecordRetrieved(nullptr),
+  m_lastRecordRetrievedPointer(nullptr)
+{
+  assert(m_magicHeader == Magic);
+  assert(m_magicFooter == Magic);
+  // Set the size of the first record to 0
+  overrideSizeAtPosition(m_buffer, 0);
+}
+
 const char * Storage::fullNameOfRecord(const Record record) {
   char * p = pointerOfRecord(record);
   if (p != nullptr) {