diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index fa0c596f64ceea923c93a31b5e0a9cc4ade3e78e..b7d3999c28d239d14065da250747a303b52c6b45 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -499,20 +499,6 @@ ALBERTA_CHECK_PACKAGE([silo],[silo],[DBPutUcdmesh],
 #
 AM_CONDITIONAL(GEOMVIEW, true)
 
-#
-# Whether or not to enable the init_element() stuff. Switching off the
-# init_element() feature will result in a library which is compatible
-# at the binary and API level for standard application, and which is
-# slightly faster because the if-statements testing for the presence
-# of the init_element methods are disabled.
-#
-ALBERTA_ENABLE_FLAG([init-element],
-  [disable support for per-element initializers for basis-functions and
-   quadrature rules.],
-  1,
-  USE_INIT_ELEMENT,
-  [subst cond def])
-
 #
 # Malloc debugging
 #