diff --git a/python/libxslt.c b/python/libxslt.c
index 353939e3..0758d606 100644
--- a/python/libxslt.c
+++ b/python/libxslt.c
@@ -1280,7 +1280,6 @@ void initlibxsltmod(void) {
      */
     libxslt_xsltErrorInitialize();
     xmlLoadExtDtdDefaultValue = XML_DETECT_IDS | XML_COMPLETE_ATTRS;
-    xmlDefaultSAXHandler.cdataBlock = NULL;
     /*
      * Register the EXSLT extensions and the test module
      */