diff --git a/complete.cpp b/complete.cpp
index c80c8f101..909f488ed 100644
--- a/complete.cpp
+++ b/complete.cpp
@@ -275,6 +275,10 @@ const wcstring &completion_entry_t::get_short_opt_str() const
     return short_opt_str;
 }
 
+completion_t::~completion_t()
+{
+}
+
 /* completion_t functions */
 completion_t::completion_t(const wcstring &comp, const wcstring &desc, int flags_val) : completion(comp), description(desc), flags(flags_val)
 {
diff --git a/complete.h b/complete.h
index 72bcd8c12..5af677035 100644
--- a/complete.h
+++ b/complete.h
@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@ private:
     completion_t();
 public:
 
+    /* Destructor. Not inlining it saves code size. */
+    ~completion_t();
+
     /**
        The completion string
     */