diff --git a/src/propgrid/property.cpp b/src/propgrid/property.cpp
index e4288375fa..db1ef35c27 100644
--- a/src/propgrid/property.cpp
+++ b/src/propgrid/property.cpp
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ wxPGChoiceEntry& wxPGChoicesData::Insert(int index,
 wxIMPLEMENT_ABSTRACT_CLASS(wxPGProperty, wxObject);
 
 #if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_3_2
-wxString* wxPGProperty::sm_wxPG_LABEL = new wxString("@!");
+wxString* wxPGProperty::sm_wxPG_LABEL = nullptr;
 #endif // WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_3_2
 const wxString wxPGProperty::sm_labelItem("@!");
 
diff --git a/src/propgrid/propgrid.cpp b/src/propgrid/propgrid.cpp
index ecdbe8fe64..77a3156d85 100644
--- a/src/propgrid/propgrid.cpp
+++ b/src/propgrid/propgrid.cpp
@@ -204,6 +204,10 @@ wxPGGlobalVarsClass::wxPGGlobalVarsClass()
     , m_extraStyle(0)
     , m_warnings(0)
 {
+#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_3_2
+    wxPGProperty::sm_wxPG_LABEL = new wxString("@!");
+#endif // WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_3_2
+
     /* TRANSLATORS: Name of Boolean false value */
     m_boolChoices.Add(_("False"));
     /* TRANSLATORS: Name of Boolean true value */