diff --git a/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h b/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h
index 4f3bceb41b4..fc00c0d87ae 100644
--- a/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h
+++ b/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h
@@ -2750,6 +2750,7 @@ Surface_mesh()
     removed_vertices_ = removed_edges_ = removed_faces_ = 0;
     vertices_freelist_ = edges_freelist_ = faces_freelist_ = (std::numeric_limits<size_type>::max)();
     garbage_ = false;
+    recycle_ = true;
     anonymous_property_ = 0;
 }