diff --git a/controller_interface/include/controller_interface/controller_interface_base.hpp b/controller_interface/include/controller_interface/controller_interface_base.hpp
index 6835d185c0..6ce483d1ff 100644
--- a/controller_interface/include/controller_interface/controller_interface_base.hpp
+++ b/controller_interface/include/controller_interface/controller_interface_base.hpp
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class ControllerInterfaceBase : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::Lifecy
   void release_interfaces();
 
   CONTROLLER_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-  virtual return_type init(
+  return_type init(
     const std::string & controller_name, const std::string & urdf, unsigned int cm_update_rate,
     const std::string & node_namespace, const rclcpp::NodeOptions & node_options);