diff --git a/src/grib_util.cc b/src/grib_util.cc
index dcebec9af..af0e40af6 100644
--- a/src/grib_util.cc
+++ b/src/grib_util.cc
@@ -951,13 +951,8 @@ grib_handle* grib_util_set_spec(grib_handle* h,
     int global_grid               = 0; /* boolean */
     int expandBoundingBox         = 0;
 
-    static grib_util_packing_spec default_packing_spec = {0,};
     Assert(h);
 
-    if (!packing_spec) {
-        packing_spec = &default_packing_spec;
-    }
-
     /* Get edition number from input handle */
     if ((*err = grib_get_long(h, "edition", &editionNumber)) != 0) {
         if (c->write_on_fail) grib_write_message(h, "error.grib", "w");