diff --git a/src/io.c b/src/io.c
index 4a0d2f28e8b..190614480c8 100644
--- a/src/io.c
+++ b/src/io.c
@@ -1857,8 +1857,6 @@ static Obj FuncSET_PRINT_FORMATTING_STDOUT(Obj self, Obj val)
     TypOutputFile * output = IO()->Output;
     if (!output)
         ErrorMayQuit("SET_PRINT_FORMATTING_STDOUT called while no output is opened\n", 0, 0);
-    while (output->prev)
-        output = output->prev;
     output->format = (val != False);
     return val;
 }