diff --git a/skimage/measure/_label.py b/skimage/measure/_label.py
index 89b4856a..e3ac6034 100644
--- a/skimage/measure/_label.py
+++ b/skimage/measure/_label.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from ._ccomp import label as _label
 
-def label(input, neighbors=8, background=None, return_num=False,
+def label(input, neighbors=None, background=None, return_num=False,
         connectivity=None):
     return _label(input, neighbors, background, return_num, connectivity)