diff --git a/lib/isodoc/xref.rb b/lib/isodoc/xref.rb
index 9e7eabed..506e752c 100644
--- a/lib/isodoc/xref.rb
+++ b/lib/isodoc/xref.rb
@@ -18,25 +18,31 @@ class Xref
 
     # Note: if bibrender is no passed in, do not parse references
     def initialize(lang, script, klass, i18n, options = {})
-      @anchors = {}
+      initialize_empty
       @lang = lang
       @script = script
       @klass = klass
       @options = options
-      @i18n = i18n
-      @labels = @i18n.get
-      @klass.i18n = @i18n
+      initialize_i18n(i18n)
       @klass.bibrender ||= options[:bibrender]
-      @locale = options[:locale]
       @reqt_models = @klass.requirements_processor
-        .new({
-               default: "default", lang:, script:,
-               labels: @i18n.get
-             })
-      @i18n
+        .new({ default: "default", lang:, script:,
+               labels: @i18n.get })
+    end
+
+    def initialize_empty
+      @c = HTMLEntities.new
+      @anchors = {}
       @parse_settings = {}
     end
 
+    def initialize_i18n(i18n)
+      @i18n = i18n
+      @labels = @i18n.get
+      @klass.i18n = @i18n
+      @locale = @options[:locale]
+    end
+
     def get
       @anchors
     end