diff --git a/history/ircplugin.py b/history/ircplugin.py
index fa0543c..619103b 100644
--- a/history/ircplugin.py
+++ b/history/ircplugin.py
@@ -14,6 +14,13 @@ class History(Plugin):
 
     what_missed_regex = r'(?i)(what did I miss\?|did I miss anything\?)$'
 
+    def __init__(self, bot, connection, event):
+        """Initialize some tracking stuff."""
+        super(History, self).__init__(bot, connection, event)
+        self.channel_history = {}
+        self.channel_participants = {}
+        self.channel_leave_points = {}
+
     def start(self):
         """Set up the handlers."""
         logger.debug("%s starting up", __name__)
@@ -25,10 +32,6 @@ class History(Plugin):
         self.connection.reactor.add_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], self.what_missed_regex,
                                                          self.handle_what_missed, 60)
 
-        self.channel_history = {}
-        self.channel_participants = {}
-        self.channel_leave_points = {}
-
         super(History, self).start()
 
     def stop(self):