diff --git a/src/highlight.c b/src/highlight.c
index 95cdb46..3a12312 100644
--- a/src/highlight.c
+++ b/src/highlight.c
@@ -1429,6 +1429,7 @@
     // If no argument, list current highlighting.
     if (!init && ends_excmd2(line - 1, line))
     {
+	dont_use_message_window();
 	for (i = 1; i <= highlight_ga.ga_len && !got_int; ++i)
 	    // TODO: only call when the group has attributes set
 	    highlight_list_one((int)i);