diff --git a/python/libxslt.c b/python/libxslt.c
index 79b6e0c5..c11dc57e 100644
--- a/python/libxslt.c
+++ b/python/libxslt.c
@@ -1284,7 +1284,6 @@ void initlibxsltmod(void) {
      * Specific XSLT initializations
      */
     libxslt_xsltErrorInitialize();
-    xmlLoadExtDtdDefaultValue = XML_DETECT_IDS | XML_COMPLETE_ATTRS;
     /*
      * Register the EXSLT extensions and the test module
      */