diff --git a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/expression_types.hpp b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/expression_types.hpp
index f57c2b52..6f90b657 100644
--- a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/expression_types.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/expression_types.hpp
@@ -84,9 +84,6 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
 
         // Construction and destruction
         BOOST_UBLAS_INLINE
-        scalar_reference ():
-            t_ (nil_) {}
-        BOOST_UBLAS_INLINE
         explicit scalar_reference (reference t):
             t_ (t) {}
 
@@ -117,13 +114,8 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
 
     private:
         reference t_;
-        static value_type nil_;
     };
 
-    template<class T>
-    typename scalar_reference<T>::value_type scalar_reference<T>::nil_
-        = typename scalar_reference<T>::value_type ();
-
     template<class T>
     class scalar_value:
         public scalar_expression<scalar_value<T> > {