diff --git a/nano/node/messages.cpp b/nano/node/messages.cpp
index 0143a62b2..b0ea66657 100644
--- a/nano/node/messages.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/messages.cpp
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ void nano::keepalive::operator() (nano::object_stream & obs) const
 
 nano::publish::publish (bool & error_a, nano::stream & stream_a, nano::message_header const & header_a, nano::uint128_t const & digest_a, nano::block_uniquer * uniquer_a) :
 	message (header_a),
-	digest (digest_a)
+	digest{ digest_a }
 {
 	if (!error_a)
 	{
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ nano::publish::publish (bool & error_a, nano::stream & stream_a, nano::message_h
 
 nano::publish::publish (nano::network_constants const & constants, std::shared_ptr<nano::block> const & block_a, bool is_originator_a) :
 	message (constants, nano::message_type::publish),
-	block (block_a)
+	block{ block_a }
 {
 	header.block_type_set (block->type ());
 	header.flag_set (originator_flag, is_originator_a);
diff --git a/nano/node/messages.hpp b/nano/node/messages.hpp
index 33431821f..91d597aea 100644
--- a/nano/node/messages.hpp
+++ b/nano/node/messages.hpp
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ public: // Logging
 class publish final : public message
 {
 public:
-	publish (bool &, nano::stream &, nano::message_header const &, nano::uint128_t const & = 0, nano::block_uniquer * = nullptr);
+	publish (bool &, nano::stream &, nano::message_header const &, nano::uint128_t const & digest = 0, nano::block_uniquer * = nullptr);
 	publish (nano::network_constants const & constants, std::shared_ptr<nano::block> const &, bool is_originator = false);
 
 	void serialize (nano::stream &) const override;
@@ -201,6 +201,8 @@ public:
 
 public: // Payload
 	std::shared_ptr<nano::block> block;
+
+	// Messages deserialized from network should have their digest set
 	nano::uint128_t digest{ 0 };
 
 public: // Logging