diff --git a/wpilibc/src/main/native/cpp/DutyCycleEncoder.cpp b/wpilibc/src/main/native/cpp/DutyCycleEncoder.cpp
index 728b1def7d..ea054ce790 100644
--- a/wpilibc/src/main/native/cpp/DutyCycleEncoder.cpp
+++ b/wpilibc/src/main/native/cpp/DutyCycleEncoder.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ DutyCycleEncoder::DutyCycleEncoder(int channel)
     : m_dutyCycle{std::make_shared<DutyCycle>(
           std::make_shared<DigitalInput>(channel))},
       m_analogTrigger{m_dutyCycle.get()},
-      m_counter{} {}
+      m_counter{} {
+  Init();
+}
 
 DutyCycleEncoder::DutyCycleEncoder(DutyCycle& dutyCycle)
     : m_dutyCycle{&dutyCycle, NullDeleter<DutyCycle>{}},