diff --git a/xbout/geometries.py b/xbout/geometries.py
index ad839293..9baa4506 100644
--- a/xbout/geometries.py
+++ b/xbout/geometries.py
@@ -292,8 +292,6 @@ def add_s_alpha_geometry_coords(ds, *, coordinates=None, grid=None):
                          "geometry='s-alpha'")
     ds['r'] = ds['hthe'].isel({ycoord: 0}).squeeze(drop=True)
     ds['r'].attrs['units'] = 'm'
-    # remove x-index coordinate, don't need when we have 'r' as a radial coordinate
-    ds = ds.drop('x')
     ds = ds.set_coords('r')
     ds = ds.rename(x='r')
     ds.metadata['bout_xdim'] = 'r'