diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/iptunnel/IPTunnel.cc b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/iptunnel/IPTunnel.cc
index 809212cfd2..9bb66e2a33 100644
--- a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/iptunnel/IPTunnel.cc
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/iptunnel/IPTunnel.cc
@@ -152,8 +152,6 @@ std::unique_ptr<Packet> build_inner_packet(Packet* outer_pkt, int* encap_index,
                                            std::shared_ptr<EncapsulationStack> encap_stack, uint32_t inner_cap_len,
                                            const u_char* data, int link_type, BifEnum::Tunnel::Type tunnel_type,
                                            const Tag& analyzer_tag) {
-    auto inner_pkt = std::make_unique<Packet>();
-
     assert(outer_pkt->cap_len >= inner_cap_len);
     assert(outer_pkt->len >= outer_pkt->cap_len - inner_cap_len);
 
@@ -169,7 +167,8 @@ std::unique_ptr<Packet> build_inner_packet(Packet* outer_pkt, int* encap_index,
     pkt_timeval ts;
     ts.tv_sec = static_cast<time_t>(run_state::current_timestamp);
     ts.tv_usec = static_cast<suseconds_t>((run_state::current_timestamp - static_cast<double>(ts.tv_sec)) * 1000000);
-    inner_pkt->Init(link_type, &ts, inner_cap_len, inner_wire_len, data);
+
+    auto inner_pkt = std::make_unique<Packet>(link_type, &ts, inner_cap_len, inner_wire_len, data);
 
     *encap_index = 0;
     if ( outer_pkt->session ) {