diff --git a/include/osmium/experimental/flex_reader.hpp b/include/osmium/experimental/flex_reader.hpp
index dc828962..03b24ec3 100644
--- a/include/osmium/experimental/flex_reader.hpp
+++ b/include/osmium/experimental/flex_reader.hpp
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@ namespace osmium {
             }
 
             explicit FlexReader(const std::string& filename, TLocationHandler& location_handler, osmium::osm_entity_bits::type entities = osmium::osm_entity_bits::nwr) :
-                FlexReader(osmium::io::File(filename), location_handler, entities) {
+                FlexReader(osmium::io::File{filename}, location_handler, entities) {
             }
 
             explicit FlexReader(const char* filename, TLocationHandler& location_handler, osmium::osm_entity_bits::type entities = osmium::osm_entity_bits::nwr) :
-                FlexReader(osmium::io::File(filename), location_handler, entities) {
+                FlexReader(osmium::io::File{filename}, location_handler, entities) {
             }
 
             osmium::memory::Buffer read() {