diff --git a/src/cluster/Backend.cc b/src/cluster/Backend.cc
index 0068c64715..59e19f7ae0 100644
--- a/src/cluster/Backend.cc
+++ b/src/cluster/Backend.cc
@@ -89,6 +89,11 @@ Backend::Backend(std::string_view arg_name, std::unique_ptr<EventSerializer> es,
         reporter->InternalError("unknown cluster backend name '%s'; mismatch with tag component?", name.c_str());
 }
 
+bool Backend::Init(std::string nid) {
+    SetNodeId(std::move(nid));
+    return DoInit();
+}
+
 std::optional<detail::Event> Backend::MakeClusterEvent(FuncValPtr handler, ArgsSpan args, double timestamp) const {
     auto checked_args = detail::check_args(handler, args);
     if ( ! checked_args )
diff --git a/src/cluster/Backend.h b/src/cluster/Backend.h
index f451f3246e..ba689be8d3 100644
--- a/src/cluster/Backend.h
+++ b/src/cluster/Backend.h
@@ -194,11 +194,7 @@ public:
      *
      * @param nid The node identifier to use.
      */
-    bool Init(std::string nid) {
-        node_id = std::move(nid);
-
-        return DoInit();
-    }
+    bool Init(std::string nid);
 
     /**
      * Hook invoked when Zeek is about to terminate.