diff --git a/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.I b/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.I
index 0523ba9727..1e54d62d1b 100644
--- a/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.I
+++ b/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.I
@@ -26,17 +26,3 @@ INLINE BulletWheelRaycastInfo::
 ~BulletWheelRaycastInfo() {
 
 }
-
-/**
- * Named constructor intended to be used for asserts with have to return a
- * concrete value.
- */
-INLINE BulletWheel BulletWheel::
-empty() {
-
-  btWheelInfoConstructionInfo ci {};
-  btWheelInfo info(ci);
-
-  return BulletWheel(info);
-}
-
diff --git a/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.cxx b/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.cxx
index 21a6eefd76..afeaffa785 100644
--- a/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.cxx
@@ -23,6 +23,19 @@ BulletWheel(btWheelInfo &info) : _info(info) {
 
 }
 
+/**
+ * Named constructor intended to be used for asserts with have to return a
+ * concrete value.
+ */
+BulletWheel BulletWheel::
+empty() {
+
+  static btWheelInfoConstructionInfo ci {};
+  static btWheelInfo info(ci);
+
+  return BulletWheel(info);
+}
+
 /**
  *
  */
diff --git a/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.h b/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.h
index 414ecd94f3..41564fd9d5 100644
--- a/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.h
+++ b/panda/src/bullet/bulletWheel.h
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
 public:
   BulletWheel(btWheelInfo &info);
 
-  INLINE static BulletWheel empty();
+  static BulletWheel empty();
 
 private:
   btWheelInfo &_info;