diff --git a/src/datatype/dt_add.c b/src/datatype/dt_add.c
index 17d9b9de06..4ec31f1a02 100644
--- a/src/datatype/dt_add.c
+++ b/src/datatype/dt_add.c
@@ -131,13 +131,6 @@ int lam_ddt_add( dt_desc_t* pdtBase, dt_desc_t* pdtAdd, unsigned int count, long
       /* should I add some space until the extent of this datatype ? */
    }
 
-   /* let's add a fake element at the end just to avoid useless comparaisons
-    * in pack/unpack functions.
-    */
-   pLast++;
-   pLast->type = 0;
-   pLast->flags = 0;
-
    pdtBase->size += count * pdtAdd->size;
    pdtBase->true_lb = LMIN( pdtBase->true_lb, pdtAdd->true_lb + disp );
    pdtBase->true_ub = LMAX( pdtBase->true_ub,