diff --git a/src/com/silverwrist/util/IPv4Util.java b/src/com/silverwrist/util/IPv4Util.java
index 038c26d..73ed43f 100644
--- a/src/com/silverwrist/util/IPv4Util.java
+++ b/src/com/silverwrist/util/IPv4Util.java
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ public class IPv4Util
 
   public static final long MAX_ADDRESS = 0xFFFFFFFFL;
 
-  private static final REProgram IPV4_PATTERN =
-      new RECompiler().compile("^\\s*(\\d{1,3})\\.(\\d{1,3})\\.(\\d{1,3})\\.(\\d{1,3})\\s*$");
+  private static final REProgram IPV4_PATTERN;
 
   /*--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    * Constructors
@@ -101,4 +100,25 @@ public class IPv4Util
     
   } // end longToStringAddress
 
+  /*--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   * Static initializer
+   *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   */
+
+  static
+  {
+    try
+    { // compile the pattern
+      RECompiler comp = new RECompiler();
+      IPV4_PATTERN = comp.compile("^\\s*(\\d{1,3})\\.(\\d{1,3})\\.(\\d{1,3})\\.(\\d{1,3})\\s*$");
+
+    } // end try
+    catch (RESyntaxException e)
+    { // shouldn't happen
+      throw new Error(e.getMessage());
+
+    } // end catch
+
+  } // end static initializer
+
 } // end class IPv4Util