diff --git a/cpp/dolfinx/fem/FiniteElement.cpp b/cpp/dolfinx/fem/FiniteElement.cpp
index 4633357094..7fb12b7907 100644
--- a/cpp/dolfinx/fem/FiniteElement.cpp
+++ b/cpp/dolfinx/fem/FiniteElement.cpp
@@ -150,18 +150,18 @@ FiniteElement<T>::FiniteElement(
   // constructed as rank-1 with shape (6,). It should be really be
   // shape=(3, 3) with block size 6.
 
-  if (value_shape)
-  {
-    // Create sub-elements (one for each block)
-    _sub_elements
-        = std::vector<std::shared_ptr<const FiniteElement<geometry_type>>>(
-            _bs, std::make_shared<FiniteElement<T>>(element));
-
-    _reference_value_shape
-        = *value_shape; // FIXME: should be base element value shape?
-  }
-
-  _space_dim = _bs * element.dim();
+  // if (value_shape)
+  // {
+  //   // Create sub-elements (one for each block)
+  //   _sub_elements
+  //       = std::vector<std::shared_ptr<const FiniteElement<geometry_type>>>(
+  //           _bs, std::make_shared<FiniteElement<T>>(element));
+
+  //   _reference_value_shape
+  //       = *value_shape; // FIXME: should be base element value shape?
+  // }
+
+  // _space_dim = _bs * element.dim();
 
   std::string family;
   switch (_element->family())