diff --git a/wiretap/ber.c b/wiretap/ber.c
index e32254a444..a9bac44a9b 100644
--- a/wiretap/ber.c
+++ b/wiretap/ber.c
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ static gboolean ber_read_file(wtap *wth, FILE_T fh, wtap_rec *rec,
   rec->ts.secs = 0;
   rec->ts.nsecs = 0;
 
-  ws_buffer_assure_space(buf, packet_size);
   return wtap_read_packet_bytes(fh, buf, packet_size, err, err_info);
 }
 
diff --git a/wiretap/network_instruments.c b/wiretap/network_instruments.c
index 7ea3056d53..7ea7b11e8b 100644
--- a/wiretap/network_instruments.c
+++ b/wiretap/network_instruments.c
@@ -551,9 +551,6 @@ read_packet_data(FILE_T fh, int offset_to_frame, int current_offset_from_packet_
         bytes_consumed += seek_increment;
     }
 
-    /* set-up the packet buffer */
-    ws_buffer_assure_space(buf, length);
-
     /* read in the packet data */
     if (!wtap_read_packet_bytes(fh, buf, length, err, err_info))
         return FALSE;