diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index f58f525..8b239f3 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -18022,7 +18022,9 @@
     int		type;
     char_u	*string;
 {
-    msg_attr(prefix, 0);    /* don't use msg(), it overwrites "v:statusmsg" */
+    /* don't use msg() or msg_attr() to avoid overwriting "v:statusmsg" */
+    msg_start();
+    msg_puts(prefix);
     if (name != NULL)	/* "a:" vars don't have a name stored */
 	msg_puts(name);
     msg_putchar(' ');