diff --git a/arbor/cable_cell.cpp b/arbor/cable_cell.cpp
index bf41a4b53111ad44ebd3b2a482de6aea3d8b9f3e..d90094e834713776401cc38a8cc46c0599842a23 100644
--- a/arbor/cable_cell.cpp
+++ b/arbor/cable_cell.cpp
@@ -159,7 +159,6 @@ struct cable_cell_impl {
     lid_range place(const mlocation_list& locs, const Desc& desc, std::vector<T>& list) {
         const auto first = list.size();
 
-        list.reserve(first+locs.size());
         for (auto loc: locs) {
             list.push_back({loc, desc});
         }