diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index 1b85c49f..435f4a88 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -2455,7 +2455,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		if (currmenu != MMAIN)
 			bottombars(MMAIN);
 
-		lastmessage = HUSH;
+		lastmessage = VACUUM;
 		as_an_at = TRUE;
 
 		/* Update the displayed current cursor position only when there
diff --git a/src/nano.h b/src/nano.h
index 62392b0f..2b86476b 100644
--- a/src/nano.h
+++ b/src/nano.h
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ typedef enum {
 } format_type;
 
 typedef enum {
-	HUSH, NOTICE, MILD, ALERT
+	VACUUM, HUSH, NOTICE, MILD, ALERT
 } message_type;
 
 typedef enum {
diff --git a/src/prompt.c b/src/prompt.c
index 27786199..f66da1c8 100644
--- a/src/prompt.c
+++ b/src/prompt.c
@@ -580,6 +580,8 @@ int do_prompt(bool allow_tabs, bool allow_files,
 	/* Reserve five columns for colon plus angles plus answer, ":<aa>". */
 	prompt[actual_x(prompt, (COLS < 5) ? 0 : COLS - 5)] = '\0';
 
+	lastmessage = VACUUM;
+
 	func = acquire_an_answer(&retval, allow_tabs, allow_files, &listed,
 								history_list, refresh_func);
 	free(prompt);
@@ -602,7 +604,8 @@ int do_prompt(bool allow_tabs, bool allow_files,
 	else if (func == do_enter)
 		retval = (*answer == '\0') ? -2 : 0;
 
-	wipe_statusbar();
+	if (lastmessage == VACUUM)
+		wipe_statusbar();
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_TABCOMP
 	/* If we've done tab completion, there might still be a list of