diff --git a/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/RemoteWebDriver.java b/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/RemoteWebDriver.java
index 455e8412c1cca..9a520cd93dece 100644
--- a/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/RemoteWebDriver.java
+++ b/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/RemoteWebDriver.java
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ public RemoteWebDriver(URL remoteAddress, Capabilities capabilities, boolean ena
 
   public RemoteWebDriver(CommandExecutor executor, Capabilities capabilities) {
     this.executor = Require.nonNull("Command executor", executor);
-    capabilities = init(capabilities);
+    this.capabilities = init(capabilities);
 
     if (executor instanceof NeedsLocalLogs) {
       ((NeedsLocalLogs) executor).setLocalLogs(localLogs);