diff --git a/wpilibc/Athena/include/CANTalon.h b/wpilibc/Athena/include/CANTalon.h
index 8463217c62..82d5f069b8 100644
--- a/wpilibc/Athena/include/CANTalon.h
+++ b/wpilibc/Athena/include/CANTalon.h
@@ -573,7 +573,11 @@ class CANTalon : public MotorSafety,
 
   // LiveWindow stuff.
   std::shared_ptr<ITable> m_table;
-  bool m_isInverted;
+  /**
+   * Flips the output direction during open-loop modes like percent
+   * voltage, or certain closed loop modes like speed/current mode.
+   */
+  bool m_isInverted = false;
 
   HasBeenMoved m_hasBeenMoved;
 };
diff --git a/wpilibc/Athena/src/CANTalon.cpp b/wpilibc/Athena/src/CANTalon.cpp
index e94513fddd..fb6b66824b 100644
--- a/wpilibc/Athena/src/CANTalon.cpp
+++ b/wpilibc/Athena/src/CANTalon.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ CANTalon::CANTalon(int deviceNumber)
       m_safetyHelper(new MotorSafetyHelper(this)) {
   ApplyControlMode(m_controlMode);
   m_impl->SetProfileSlotSelect(m_profile);
-  m_isInverted = false;
   LiveWindow::GetInstance()->AddActuator("CANTalon", m_deviceNumber, this);
 }
 /**