diff --git a/lib/iris/__init__.py b/lib/iris/__init__.py
index 29a175f31d..21e8bc07c9 100644
--- a/lib/iris/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/iris/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2018, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2019, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -370,8 +370,7 @@ def load_cube(uris, constraint=None, callback=None):
     if len(constraints) != 1:
         raise ValueError('only a single constraint is allowed')
 
-    cubes = _load_collection(uris, constraints, callback)
-    cubes = cubes.merged().cubes()
+    cubes = _load_collection(uris, constraints, callback).cubes()
 
     try:
         cube = cubes.merge_cube()