diff --git a/include/leveled.hrl b/include/leveled.hrl
index 5c13d4c..4e33c15 100644
--- a/include/leveled.hrl
+++ b/include/leveled.hrl
@@ -35,19 +35,19 @@
 
 -record(cdb_options,
                         {max_size :: integer(),
-                        file_path :: string(),
-                        waste_path :: string(),
+                        file_path :: string() | undefined,
+                        waste_path :: string() | undefined,
                         binary_mode = false :: boolean(),
                         sync_strategy = sync}).
 
 -record(inker_options,
-                        {cdb_max_size :: integer(),
-                        root_path :: string(),
+                        {cdb_max_size :: integer() | undefined,
+                        root_path :: string() | undefined,
                         cdb_options :: #cdb_options{},
                         start_snapshot = false :: boolean(),
-                        source_inker :: pid(),
+                        source_inker :: pid() | undefined,
                         reload_strategy = [] :: list(),
-                        waste_retention_period :: integer(),
+                        waste_retention_period :: integer() | undefined,
                         max_run_length}).
 
 -record(penciller_options,
diff --git a/src/leveled_inker.erl b/src/leveled_inker.erl
index 69d9a3f..3472c13 100644
--- a/src/leveled_inker.erl
+++ b/src/leveled_inker.erl
@@ -128,15 +128,15 @@
 -record(state, {manifest = [] :: list(),
 				manifest_sqn = 0 :: integer(),
                 journal_sqn = 0 :: integer(),
-                active_journaldb :: pid(),
+                active_journaldb :: pid() | undefined,
                 pending_removals = [] :: list(),
                 registered_snapshots = [] :: list(),
-                root_path :: string(),
-                cdb_options :: #cdb_options{},
-                clerk :: pid(),
+                root_path :: string() | undefined,
+                cdb_options :: #cdb_options{} | undefined,
+                clerk :: pid() | undefined,
                 compaction_pending = false :: boolean(),
                 is_snapshot = false :: boolean(),
-                source_inker :: pid()}).
+                source_inker :: pid() | undefined}).
 
 
 -type inker_options() :: #inker_options{}.
@@ -1073,4 +1073,4 @@ coverage_cheat_test() ->
     {noreply, _State0} = handle_info(timeout, #state{}),
     {ok, _State1} = code_change(null, #state{}, null).
 
--endif.
\ No newline at end of file
+-endif.