diff --git a/core/src/main/java/net/kuujo/copycat/cluster/AbstractMember.java b/core/src/main/java/net/kuujo/copycat/cluster/AbstractMember.java
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/net/kuujo/copycat/cluster/AbstractMember.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/net/kuujo/copycat/cluster/AbstractMember.java
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractMember implements Member {
    */
   public static abstract class Builder<T extends Builder<T, U>, U extends AbstractMember> implements Member.Builder<T, U> {
     protected int id;
-    protected Type type;
+    protected Type type = Type.ACTIVE;
     protected Serializer serializer;
 
     @Override
Default member types to ACTIVE.