diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 876289f..380a572 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1034,7 +1034,7 @@
 	    emsg_on_display = FALSE;	/* can delete error message now */
 	    did_emsg = FALSE;
 	    msg_didany = FALSE;		/* reset lines_left in msg_start() */
-	    clear_sb_text();		/* clear scroll-back text */
+	    may_clear_sb_text();	/* clear scroll-back text on next msg */
 	    showruler(FALSE);
 
 	    setcursor();