diff --git a/src/definitions.h b/src/definitions.h
index 3f2ef3e6..8a2beadc 100644
--- a/src/definitions.h
+++ b/src/definitions.h
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@
 
 /* Enumeration types. */
 typedef enum {
-	NIX_FILE, DOS_FILE, MAC_FILE
+	UNSPECIFIED, NIX_FILE, DOS_FILE, MAC_FILE
 } format_type;
 
 typedef enum {
diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index 0b7f62a3..4f135f03 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ void make_new_buffer(void)
 	openfile->mark = NULL;
 	openfile->softmark = FALSE;
 
-	openfile->fmt = NIX_FILE;
+	openfile->fmt = UNSPECIFIED;
 
 	openfile->undotop = NULL;
 	openfile->current_undo = NULL;
@@ -821,9 +821,11 @@ void read_file(FILE *f, int fd, const char *filename, bool undoable)
 						num_lines), num_lines);
 	}
 #endif
-	else
+	else {
+		openfile->fmt = NIX_FILE;
 		statusline(HUSH, P_("Read %zu line", "Read %zu lines",
 						num_lines), num_lines);
+	}
 
 	/* If we inserted less than a screenful, don't center the cursor. */
 	if (undoable && less_than_a_screenful(was_lineno, was_leftedge))
diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index 0f770ebe..7d852db8 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -2230,7 +2230,7 @@ void statusline(message_type importance, const char *msg, ...)
 	va_end(ap);
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_MULTIBUFFER
-	if (!we_are_running && importance == ALERT && openfile &&
+	if (!we_are_running && importance == ALERT && openfile && !openfile->fmt &&
 						!openfile->errormessage && openfile->next != openfile)
 		openfile->errormessage = copy_of(compound);
 #endif