diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/pens/ftPen.py b/Lib/fontTools/pens/ftPen.py
index 594d12a78..62ebf260b 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/pens/ftPen.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/pens/ftPen.py
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ class FTPen(BasePen):
     """
 
     def __init__(self, glyphSet):
+        BasePen.__init__(self, glyphset)
         self.contours = []
 
     def outline(self, offset=None, scale=None, even_odd=False):