diff --git a/skimage/morphology/misc.py b/skimage/morphology/misc.py
index 820ce4a1..4e71b224 100644
--- a/skimage/morphology/misc.py
+++ b/skimage/morphology/misc.py
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ def remove_small_objects(ar, min_size=64, connectivity=1, in_place=False):
 
     if out.dtype == bool:
         selem = nd.generate_binary_structure(ar.ndim, connectivity)
-        ccs = nd.label(ar, selem)[0]
+        ccs = np.zeros_like(ar, dtype=np.int)
+        nd.label(ar, selem, output=ccs)
     else:
         ccs = out