diff --git a/spectator/http_client.cc b/spectator/http_client.cc
index 6bda693..f96f805 100644
--- a/spectator/http_client.cc
+++ b/spectator/http_client.cc
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ auto HttpClient::perform(const char* method, const std::string& url,
                          int attempt_number) const -> HttpResponse {
   LogEntry entry{registry_, method, url};
 
-  CurlHandle curl;
+  static CurlHandle curl;
   auto total_timeout = config_.connect_timeout + config_.read_timeout;
   curl.set_timeout(total_timeout);
   curl.set_connect_timeout(config_.connect_timeout);