diff --git a/src/main/java/org/graylog2/syslog4j/impl/unix/UnixSyslog.java b/src/main/java/org/graylog2/syslog4j/impl/unix/UnixSyslog.java
index 1bc66a1..9d97596 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/graylog2/syslog4j/impl/unix/UnixSyslog.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/graylog2/syslog4j/impl/unix/UnixSyslog.java
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ public class UnixSyslog extends AbstractSyslog {
         public void closelog();
     }
 
+    protected static Memory identBuffer = null;
+
     protected static int currentFacility = -1;
     protected static boolean openlogCalled = false;
 
@@ -81,8 +83,6 @@ public class UnixSyslog extends AbstractSyslog {
                     ident = null;
                 }
 
-                Memory identBuffer = null;
-
                 if (ident != null) {
                     identBuffer = new Memory(128);
                     identBuffer.setString(0, ident, false);