diff --git a/platform/darwin/src/MGLFoundation.mm b/platform/darwin/src/MGLFoundation.mm
index 1cc56de29..5cda1dced 100644
--- a/platform/darwin/src/MGLFoundation.mm
+++ b/platform/darwin/src/MGLFoundation.mm
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 #import "MGLFoundation_Private.h"
 
 /// Initializes the run loop shim that lives on the main thread.
-mbgl::util::RunLoop mgl_runLoop;
+void MGLInitializeRunLoop() {
+    static mbgl::util::RunLoop runLoop;
+}
diff --git a/platform/darwin/src/MGLFoundation_Private.h b/platform/darwin/src/MGLFoundation_Private.h
index 940bb1df6..f23162875 100644
--- a/platform/darwin/src/MGLFoundation_Private.h
+++ b/platform/darwin/src/MGLFoundation_Private.h
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 #include <mbgl/util/run_loop.hpp>
 
-extern mbgl::util::RunLoop mgl_runLoop;
+void MGLInitializeRunLoop();
diff --git a/platform/darwin/src/MGLOfflineStorage.mm b/platform/darwin/src/MGLOfflineStorage.mm
index 9cb472ce5..b65932c6e 100644
--- a/platform/darwin/src/MGLOfflineStorage.mm
+++ b/platform/darwin/src/MGLOfflineStorage.mm
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #import "MGLOfflineStorage_Private.h"
 
+#import "MGLFoundation_Private.h"
 #import "MGLAccountManager_Private.h"
 #import "MGLGeometry_Private.h"
 #import "MGLNetworkConfiguration.h"
@@ -170,6 +171,8 @@ NSString * const MGLOfflinePackMaximumCountUserInfoKey = MGLOfflinePackUserInfoK
 }
 
 - (instancetype)init {
+    MGLInitializeRunLoop();
+
     if (self = [super init]) {
         NSURL *cacheURL = [[self class] cacheURLIncludingSubdirectory:YES];
         NSString *cachePath = cacheURL.path ?: @"";