diff --git a/.golangci.reference.yml b/.golangci.reference.yml
index ab044ff71188..96a3ba1fa3f8 100644
--- a/.golangci.reference.yml
+++ b/.golangci.reference.yml
@@ -1159,9 +1159,6 @@ linters-settings:
     # Disable to ensure that all nolint directives actually have an effect.
     # Default: false
     allow-unused: true
-    # Disable to ensure that nolint directives don't have a leading space.
-    # Default: true
-    allow-leading-space: false
     # Exclude following linters from requiring an explanation.
     # Default: []
     allow-no-explanation: [ ]
diff --git a/.golangci.yml b/.golangci.yml
index 9778170cb97a..344c0e8431b7 100644
--- a/.golangci.yml
+++ b/.golangci.yml
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ linters-settings:
   misspell:
     locale: US
   nolintlint:
-    allow-leading-space: false
     allow-unused: false # report any unused nolint directives
     require-explanation: false # don't require an explanation for nolint directives
     require-specific: false # don't require nolint directives to be specific about which linter is being skipped
diff --git a/test/testdata/fix/in/nolintlint.go b/test/testdata/fix/in/nolintlint.go
index 96468754da6b..bfb0e91eef93 100644
--- a/test/testdata/fix/in/nolintlint.go
+++ b/test/testdata/fix/in/nolintlint.go
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 //golangcitest:args -Enolintlint -Elll
 //golangcitest:expected_linter nolintlint
-//golangcitest:config linters-settings.nolintlint.allow-leading-space=false
 package p
 
 import "fmt"
diff --git a/test/testdata/fix/out/nolintlint.go b/test/testdata/fix/out/nolintlint.go
index 8858f3eeecbd..93b34c6ed955 100644
--- a/test/testdata/fix/out/nolintlint.go
+++ b/test/testdata/fix/out/nolintlint.go
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 //golangcitest:args -Enolintlint -Elll
 //golangcitest:expected_linter nolintlint
-//golangcitest:config linters-settings.nolintlint.allow-leading-space=false
 package p
 
 import "fmt"
diff --git a/test/testdata/nolintlint.go b/test/testdata/nolintlint.go
index 6d3bf0539e29..1043b9846d28 100644
--- a/test/testdata/nolintlint.go
+++ b/test/testdata/nolintlint.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 //golangcitest:expected_linter nolintlint
 //golangcitest:config linters-settings.nolintlint.require-explanation=true
 //golangcitest:config linters-settings.nolintlint.require-specific=true
-//golangcitest:config linters-settings.nolintlint.allow-leading-space=false
 package testdata
 
 import "fmt"