diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/file.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/file.py
index 2a7777d8cf..f08eea3541 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/file.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/file.py
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ class file:
     """
 
     wrapped_data: ifcopenshell_wrapper.file
+    history_size: int = 64
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -286,7 +287,6 @@ class file:
             args = filter(None, [schema])
             args = map(ifcopenshell_wrapper.schema_by_name, args)
             self.wrapped_data = ifcopenshell_wrapper.file(*args)
-        self.history_size = 64
         self.history = []
         self.future = []
         self.transaction: Optional[Transaction] = None