diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/c/bridge.cc b/cpp/src/arrow/c/bridge.cc
index 5364b00ba0ed9..85a5156d11db2 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/c/bridge.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/c/bridge.cc
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ struct SchemaExporter {
   }
 
   Status ExportSchema(const Schema& schema) {
-    static const StructType dummy_struct_type();
+    static const StructType dummy_struct_type({});
     flags_ = 0;
 
     RETURN_NOT_OK(ExportFormat(dummy_struct_type));