diff --git a/latex.el b/latex.el
index 80d2761..fa18167 100644
--- a/latex.el
+++ b/latex.el
@@ -941,7 +941,7 @@ either the prefix or a symbol referring to one."
 
 (make-variable-buffer-local 'LaTeX-label-alist)
 
-(defun LaTeX-label (name type)
+(defun LaTeX-label (name &optional type)
   "Insert a label for NAME at point.
 TYPE can be either environment or section.  If
 `LaTeX-label-function' is a valid function, LaTeX label will
@@ -955,7 +955,9 @@ transfer the job to this function."
 			  LaTeX-section-label
 			(and (listp LaTeX-section-label)
 			     (cdr (assoc name LaTeX-section-label))))
-		    ""))))
+		    ""))
+		 ((nullp type)
+		  "")))
 	label)
     (when (symbolp prefix)
       (setq prefix (symbol-value prefix)))