diff --git a/usr.bin/wall/wall.c b/usr.bin/wall/wall.c
index 448f7a94355..c853e1c40da 100644
--- a/usr.bin/wall/wall.c
+++ b/usr.bin/wall/wall.c
@@ -217,8 +217,9 @@ makemsg(fname)
 						cnt = 0;
 					}
 				}
+			} else {
+				putc(ch, fp);
 			}
-			putc(ch, fp);
 		}
 	(void)fprintf(fp, "%79s\r\n", " ");
 	rewind(fp);