diff --git a/src/constants.cpp b/src/constants.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d8b0c1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/constants.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+// Copyright (c) 2020-2021, The Monero Project.
+
+#include "constants.h"
+
+namespace constants {
+    NetworkType::Type networkType = NetworkType::Type::MAINNET;
+};
diff --git a/src/constants.h b/src/constants.h
index 76c79e1..d9e9963 100644
--- a/src/constants.h
+++ b/src/constants.h
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@
 
 namespace constants
 {
-    // application constants
-    static NetworkType::Type networkType; // TODO: compiler moans, also not really a const
+    extern NetworkType::Type networkType; // TODO: not really a const
 
     // coin constants
     const std::string coinName = "monero";