diff --git a/lisp/language/ethio-util.el b/lisp/language/ethio-util.el
index 537f0cc1f9c..db9584713f2 100644
--- a/lisp/language/ethio-util.el
+++ b/lisp/language/ethio-util.el
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
   (setq primary-language "Ethiopic")
 
   (setq default-input-method "ethiopic")
-  (setq-default default-input-method "ethiopic")
 
   ;;
   ;;  key bindings