diff --git a/libs/binder/tests/binderAllocationLimits.cpp b/libs/binder/tests/binderAllocationLimits.cpp
index 60b3c94..a2ab8ab 100644
--- a/libs/binder/tests/binderAllocationLimits.cpp
+++ b/libs/binder/tests/binderAllocationLimits.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <vector>
 
+static android::String8 gEmpty(""); // make sure first allocation from optimization runs
+
 struct DestructionAction {
     DestructionAction(std::function<void()> f) : mF(std::move(f)) {}
     ~DestructionAction() { mF(); };