diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 70d2911..73f6697 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1249,9 +1249,9 @@
 		char_u *p;
 
 		/* msg_attr_keep() will set keep_msg to NULL, must free the
-		 * string here. */
+		 * string here. Don't reset keep_msg, msg_attr_keep() uses it
+		 * to check for duplicates. */
 		p = keep_msg;
-		keep_msg = NULL;
 		msg_attr(p, keep_msg_attr);
 		vim_free(p);
 	    }