diff --git a/src/normal.c b/src/normal.c
index 5d0796f..3456b73 100644
--- a/src/normal.c
+++ b/src/normal.c
@@ -1984,7 +1984,7 @@
 		op_formatexpr(oap);	/* use expression */
 	    else
 #endif
-		if (*p_fp != NUL)
+		if (*p_fp != NUL || *curbuf->b_p_fp != NUL)
 		op_colon(oap);		/* use external command */
 	    else
 		op_format(oap, FALSE);	/* use internal function */
@@ -2197,10 +2197,12 @@
     }
     else if (oap->op_type == OP_FORMAT)
     {
-	if (*p_fp == NUL)
-	    stuffReadbuff((char_u *)"fmt");
-	else
+	if (*curbuf->b_p_fp != NUL)
+	    stuffReadbuff(curbuf->b_p_fp);
+	else if (*p_fp != NUL)
 	    stuffReadbuff(p_fp);
+	else
+	    stuffReadbuff((char_u *)"fmt");
 	stuffReadbuff((char_u *)"\n']");
     }