diff --git a/proto/bmp/bmp.c b/proto/bmp/bmp.c
index eff62410..319339a5 100644
--- a/proto/bmp/bmp.c
+++ b/proto/bmp/bmp.c
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@ enum bmp_term_reason {
     IF_COND_TRUE_PRINT_ERR_MSG_AND_RETURN_OPT_VAL(!(p), msg, rv);	\
   } while (0)
 
+static const struct ea_class *bgp_next_hop_ea_class = NULL;
 
 static void bmp_connected(struct birdsock *sk);
 static void bmp_sock_err(sock *sk, int err);
@@ -1506,6 +1507,9 @@ bmp_init(struct proto_config *CF)
   struct bmp_proto *p = (void *) P;
   struct bmp_config *cf = (void *) CF;
 
+  if (!bgp_next_hop_ea_class)
+    bgp_next_hop_ea_class = ea_class_find_by_name("bgp_next_hop");
+
   P->rt_notify = bmp_rt_notify;
   P->preexport = bmp_preexport;
   //P->feed_end = bmp_feed_end; I am confused. It looks like feed_end and bmp_feed_end exist only here