diff --git a/libs/core/synchronization/include/hpx/synchronization/range_mutex.hpp b/libs/core/synchronization/include/hpx/synchronization/range_mutex.hpp
index 34edd49af437..be79509e7fcf 100644
--- a/libs/core/synchronization/include/hpx/synchronization/range_mutex.hpp
+++ b/libs/core/synchronization/include/hpx/synchronization/range_mutex.hpp
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ namespace hpx::synchronization {
         range_guard& operator=(range_guard const&) = delete;
 
         range_guard(range_guard&& rhs_lock)
+          : lock_id(rhs_lock.lock_id)
+          , mutex_ref(rhs_lock.mutex_ref)
         {
-            mutex_ref = rhs_lock.mutex_ref;
-            lock_id = rhs_lock.lock_id;
             rhs_lock.lock_id = 0;
         }
 
@@ -81,9 +81,9 @@ namespace hpx::synchronization {
         range_unique_lock& operator=(range_unique_lock const&) = delete;
 
         range_unique_lock(range_unique_lock&& rhs_lock)
+          : mutex_ref(rhs_lock.mutex_ref)
+          , lock_id(rhs_lock.lock_id)
         {
-            mutex_ref = rhs_lock.mutex_ref;
-            lock_id = rhs_lock.lock_id;
             rhs_lock.lock_id = 0;
         }
 
diff --git a/libs/core/synchronization/tests/unit/range_mutex/range_mutex.cpp b/libs/core/synchronization/tests/unit/range_mutex/range_mutex.cpp
index 302fc75dc192..119af89ea5ab 100644
--- a/libs/core/synchronization/tests/unit/range_mutex/range_mutex.cpp
+++ b/libs/core/synchronization/tests/unit/range_mutex/range_mutex.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ int main()
     hpx::synchronization::range_mutex rm;
     hpx::synchronization::range_unique_lock<hpx::synchronization::range_mutex>
         lg(rm, 1, 2);
-    lg.lock(3, 4);
     hpx::ranged_lock::test::util::test_lock_n_times<
         hpx::synchronization::range_mutex>(
         10, 1'00'000, 4, 100,