diff --git a/src/util/ue2string.cpp b/src/util/ue2string.cpp
index 40076056..39e1edbd 100644
--- a/src/util/ue2string.cpp
+++ b/src/util/ue2string.cpp
@@ -237,6 +237,8 @@ ue2_literal::elem::operator CharReach () const {
     }
 }
 
+const ue2_literal::size_type ue2_literal::npos = std::string::npos;
+
 ue2_literal::ue2_literal(const std::string &s_in, bool nc_in)
     : s(nc_in ? toUpperString(s_in) : s_in), nocase(s_in.size()) {
     if (nc_in) {
diff --git a/src/util/ue2string.h b/src/util/ue2string.h
index 3519207c..44f1f53f 100644
--- a/src/util/ue2string.h
+++ b/src/util/ue2string.h
@@ -138,7 +138,8 @@ public:
 
     using const_reverse_iterator = std::reverse_iterator<const_iterator>;
     using size_type = std::string::size_type;
-    static const size_type npos = std::string::npos;
+
+    static const size_type npos;
 
     ue2_literal() = default;
     ue2_literal(const std::string &s_in, bool nc_in);