diff --git a/src/core/thread/link_quality.cpp b/src/core/thread/link_quality.cpp
index 90f246fa4..9f1c00bb0 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/link_quality.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/link_quality.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 
 #include "common/code_utils.hpp"
 #include "common/instance.hpp"
+#include "common/locator-getters.hpp"
 
 namespace ot {
 
diff --git a/src/core/thread/link_quality.hpp b/src/core/thread/link_quality.hpp
index 7cb939508..b9a59412d 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/link_quality.hpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/link_quality.hpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 
 #include <openthread/platform/radio.h>
 
+#include "common/locator.hpp"
 #include "common/string.hpp"
 
 namespace ot {
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@ private:
  * strength (RSS), last RSS, link margin, and link quality.
  *
  */
-class LinkQualityInfo
+class LinkQualityInfo : public InstanceLocatorInit
 {
 public:
     enum
@@ -229,6 +230,14 @@ public:
      */
     typedef String<kInfoStringSize> InfoString;
 
+    /**
+     * This method initializes the `LinkQualityInfo` object.
+     *
+     * @param[in] aInstance  A reference to the OpenThread instance.
+     *
+     */
+    void Init(Instance &aInstance) { InstanceLocatorInit::Init(aInstance); }
+
     /**
      * This method clears the all the data in the object.
      *
diff --git a/src/core/thread/topology.cpp b/src/core/thread/topology.cpp
index 515645a20..3218d01d2 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/topology.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/topology.cpp
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ namespace ot {
 void Neighbor::Init(Instance &aInstance)
 {
     InstanceLocatorInit::Init(aInstance);
+    mLinkInfo.Init(aInstance);
     SetState(kStateInvalid);
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_child.cpp b/tests/unit/test_child.cpp
index ebaf1b0c0..de5a15483 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_child.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit/test_child.cpp
@@ -90,8 +90,7 @@ void VerifyChildIp6Addresses(const Child &aChild, uint8_t aAddressListLength, co
 
         if (sInstance->Get<Mle::MleRouter>().IsMeshLocalAddress(aAddressList[index]))
         {
-            SuccessOrQuit(aChild.GetMeshLocalIp6Address(address),
-                          "Child::GetMeshLocalIp6Address() failed\n");
+            SuccessOrQuit(aChild.GetMeshLocalIp6Address(address), "Child::GetMeshLocalIp6Address() failed\n");
             VerifyOrQuit(address == aAddressList[index], "GetMeshLocalIp6Address() did not return expected address");
             hasMeshLocal = true;
         }
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_link_quality.cpp b/tests/unit/test_link_quality.cpp
index f352f2c15..caa664825 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_link_quality.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit/test_link_quality.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
 
 namespace ot {
 
+static ot::Instance *sInstance;
+
 enum
 {
     kMaxRssValue = 0,
@@ -89,6 +91,10 @@ void TestLinkQualityData(RssTestData aRssData)
     int8_t          rss, ave, min, max;
     size_t          i;
 
+    sInstance = testInitInstance();
+    VerifyOrQuit(sInstance != NULL, "Null instance");
+    linkInfo.Init(*sInstance);
+
     printf("- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -\n");
     linkInfo.Clear();
     min = kMinRssValue;