diff --git a/bin/build-epub b/bin/build-epub
index cc448c46..1dbff29a 100755
--- a/bin/build-epub
+++ b/bin/build-epub
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ parse_options "$@"
 
 if [ ! -e tmp/$OPT_lang/xml ] || [ -z "$OPT_skip" ]; then
     publican build --formats=xml --langs=$OPT_lang
-    sed -i -e "s/<book/<book lang=\"${OPT_lang}\"/" tmp/$OPT_lang/xml/debian-handbook.xml
 fi
 
 cp -a bin/epub tmp/$OPT_lang/xml/