diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/selection_memento.cc b/gtk2_ardour/selection_memento.cc
index 67e527b07f..c190d7e6ae 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/selection_memento.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/selection_memento.cc
@@ -62,8 +62,6 @@ SelectionMemento::set_state (const XMLNode& node, int /*version*/) {
 	if ((prop = node.property ("mouse-mode"))) {
 		Editing::MouseMode m = Editing::str2mousemode(prop->value());
 		editor.set_mouse_mode (m, true);
-	} else {
-		editor.set_mouse_mode (Editing::MouseObject, true);
 	}
 
 	if ((prop = node.property ("zoom"))) {