diff --git a/examples/SK6812_lowlevel.py b/examples/SK6812_lowlevel.py
index ff9177a..3c3b259 100644
--- a/examples/SK6812_lowlevel.py
+++ b/examples/SK6812_lowlevel.py
@@ -45,14 +45,6 @@
 # that you delete its memory by calling delete_ws2811_t when it's not needed.
 leds = ws.new_ws2811_t()
 
-# Initialize all channels to off
-for channum in range(2):
-    channel = ws.ws2811_channel_get(leds, channum)
-    ws.ws2811_channel_t_count_set(channel, 0)
-    ws.ws2811_channel_t_gpionum_set(channel, 0)
-    ws.ws2811_channel_t_invert_set(channel, 0)
-    ws.ws2811_channel_t_brightness_set(channel, 0)
-
 channel = ws.ws2811_channel_get(leds, LED_CHANNEL)
 
 ws.ws2811_channel_t_count_set(channel, LED_COUNT)
diff --git a/examples/lowlevel.py b/examples/lowlevel.py
index 71b77b8..2fec6df 100644
--- a/examples/lowlevel.py
+++ b/examples/lowlevel.py
@@ -40,14 +40,6 @@
 # that you delete its memory by calling delete_ws2811_t when it's not needed.
 leds = ws.new_ws2811_t()
 
-# Initialize all channels to off
-for channum in range(2):
-    channel = ws.ws2811_channel_get(leds, channum)
-    ws.ws2811_channel_t_count_set(channel, 0)
-    ws.ws2811_channel_t_gpionum_set(channel, 0)
-    ws.ws2811_channel_t_invert_set(channel, 0)
-    ws.ws2811_channel_t_brightness_set(channel, 0)
-
 channel = ws.ws2811_channel_get(leds, LED_CHANNEL)
 
 ws.ws2811_channel_t_count_set(channel, LED_COUNT)
diff --git a/library/rpi_ws281x/rpi_ws281x.py b/library/rpi_ws281x/rpi_ws281x.py
index f9d6a8a..6cc62ab 100644
--- a/library/rpi_ws281x/rpi_ws281x.py
+++ b/library/rpi_ws281x/rpi_ws281x.py
@@ -65,14 +65,6 @@ def __init__(self, num, pin, freq_hz=800000, dma=10, invert=False,
         # Create ws2811_t structure and fill in parameters.
         self._leds = ws.new_ws2811_t()
 
-        # Initialize the channels to zero
-        for channum in range(2):
-            chan = ws.ws2811_channel_get(self._leds, channum)
-            ws.ws2811_channel_t_count_set(chan, 0)
-            ws.ws2811_channel_t_gpionum_set(chan, 0)
-            ws.ws2811_channel_t_invert_set(chan, 0)
-            ws.ws2811_channel_t_brightness_set(chan, 0)
-
         # Initialize the channel in use
         self._channel = ws.ws2811_channel_get(self._leds, channel)