diff --git a/lib/connection.js b/lib/connection.js
index 927ac6aa..550d1e20 100644
--- a/lib/connection.js
+++ b/lib/connection.js
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ module.exports = Connection;
 
 var nextConnectionId = 0;
 
+// Mapping of packet types to handler function names (forward declaration, see
+// definition below the Connection class).
+//
+var PACKET_HANDLERS;
+
 // JSTP connection class
 //   transport - an abstract socket
 //   server - JSTP server instance, used only for server-side parts
@@ -331,7 +336,7 @@ Connection.prototype._processPacket = function(packet) {
     return;
   }
 
-  var handler = Connection.PACKET_HANDLERS[kind];
+  var handler = PACKET_HANDLERS[kind];
   if (handler) {
     handler.call(this, packet, keys);
   } else {
@@ -631,9 +636,7 @@ Connection.prototype._emitPacketEvent = function(kind, packet, packetId, args) {
   this.emit(kind, eventArgs);
 };
 
-// Mapping of packet types to handler function names
-//
-Connection.PACKET_HANDLERS = {
+PACKET_HANDLERS = {
   handshake: Connection.prototype._processHandshakePacket,
   call:      Connection.prototype._processCallPacket,
   callback:  Connection.prototype._processCallbackPacket,