diff --git a/src/CanvasGradient.cc b/src/CanvasGradient.cc
index 2a05f68..ebebf8b 100644
--- a/src/CanvasGradient.cc
+++ b/src/CanvasGradient.cc
@@ -15,12 +15,12 @@
 void
 Gradient::Initialize(Handle<Object> target) {
   HandleScope scope;
-  Local<FunctionTemplate> t = FunctionTemplate::New(Gradient::New);
-  t->InstanceTemplate()->SetInternalFieldCount(1);
-  t->SetClassName(String::NewSymbol("CanvasGradient"));
+  constructor = Persistent<FunctionTemplate>::New(FunctionTemplate::New(Gradient::New));
+  constructor->InstanceTemplate()->SetInternalFieldCount(1);
+  constructor->SetClassName(String::NewSymbol("CanvasGradient"));
 
-  NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(t, "addColorStopRGBA", AddColorStopRGBA);
-  target->Set(String::NewSymbol("CanvasGradient"), t->GetFunction());
+  NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor, "addColorStopRGBA", AddColorStopRGBA);
+  target->Set(String::NewSymbol("CanvasGradient"), constructor->GetFunction());
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/CanvasGradient.h b/src/CanvasGradient.h
index 07fecb2..8c0ca6e 100644
--- a/src/CanvasGradient.h
+++ b/src/CanvasGradient.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ class Gradient: public node::ObjectWrap {
     Gradient(double x0, double y0, double x1, double y1);
     Gradient(double x0, double y0, double r0, double x1, double y1, double r1);
     inline cairo_pattern_t *pattern(){ return _pattern; }
+		static Persistent<FunctionTemplate> constructor;
 
   private:
     ~Gradient();