diff --git a/mapfile.c b/mapfile.c
index 8a9fb4e74e..8025372d68 100755
--- a/mapfile.c
+++ b/mapfile.c
@@ -1609,9 +1609,6 @@ static int loadLabel(labelObj *label)
       case(LEADER):
         msSetError(MS_MISCERR, "LABEL LEADER not implemented. LEADER goes at the CLASS level." , "loadLabel()");
         return(-1);
-        label->leader = msSmallMalloc(sizeof(labelLeaderObj));
-        if(loadLeader(label->leader) == -1) return(-1);
-        break;
       case(MAXSIZE):
         if(getInteger(&(label->maxsize)) == -1) return(-1);
         break;