diff --git a/groupcache.go b/groupcache.go
index 586fb79..a781576 100644
--- a/groupcache.go
+++ b/groupcache.go
@@ -241,6 +241,8 @@ func (g *Group) Get(ctx Context, key string, dest Sink) error {
 // Remove clears the key from our cache then forwards the remove
 // request to all peers.
 func (g *Group) Remove(ctx Context, key string) error {
+	g.peersOnce.Do(g.initPeers)
+
 	_, err := g.removeGroup.Do(key, func() (interface{}, error) {
 
 		// Remove from key owner first