diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/merger.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/merger.py
index b8b7b27d6..7fac8037b 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/merger.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/merger.py
@@ -676,7 +676,6 @@ def merge(merger, self, lst):
 def _PairSet_flatten(lst, font):
 	self = ot.PairSet()
 	self.Coverage = ot.Coverage()
-	self.Coverage.Format = 1
 
 	# Align them
 	glyphs, padded = _merge_GlyphOrders(font,
@@ -702,7 +701,6 @@ def _Lookup_PairPosFormat1_subtables_flatten(lst, font):
 	self = ot.PairPos()
 	self.Format = 1
 	self.Coverage = ot.Coverage()
-	self.Coverage.Format = 1
 	self.ValueFormat1 = reduce(int.__or__, [l.ValueFormat1 for l in lst], 0)
 	self.ValueFormat2 = reduce(int.__or__, [l.ValueFormat2 for l in lst], 0)