diff --git a/gdal/apps/gdal_contour.cpp b/gdal/apps/gdal_contour.cpp
index 8624001ff14a..4d8970d8da3c 100644
--- a/gdal/apps/gdal_contour.cpp
+++ b/gdal/apps/gdal_contour.cpp
@@ -306,12 +306,7 @@ MAIN_START(argc, argv)
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 /*      Try to get a coordinate system from the raster.                 */
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
-    OGRSpatialReferenceH hSRS = nullptr;
-
-    const char *pszWKT = GDALGetProjectionRef( hSrcDS );
-
-    if( pszWKT != nullptr && strlen(pszWKT) != 0 )
-        hSRS = OSRNewSpatialReference( pszWKT );
+    OGRSpatialReferenceH hSRS = GDALGetSpatialRef( hSrcDS );
 
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 /*      Create the output file.                                         */
@@ -471,14 +466,11 @@ MAIN_START(argc, argv)
     }
 
     CPLErr eErr = GDALContourGenerateEx( hBand, hLayer, options, pfnProgress, nullptr );
-    
+
     CSLDestroy( options );
     OGR_DS_Destroy( hDS );
     GDALClose( hSrcDS );
 
-    if (hSRS)
-        OSRDestroySpatialReference( hSRS );
-
     CSLDestroy( argv );
     CSLDestroy( papszDSCO );
     CSLDestroy( papszLCO );