diff --git a/qw/source/sv_console.c b/qw/source/sv_console.c
index 0ff6eddd4..4614f6ec7 100644
--- a/qw/source/sv_console.c
+++ b/qw/source/sv_console.c
@@ -151,12 +151,19 @@ Con_Print (const char *txt)
 {
 	chtype      ch;
 
-	while ((ch = *txt++)) {
-		ch = sys_char_map[ch] | attr_table[attr_map[ch]];
-		waddch (output, ch);
+	if (output) {
+		while ((ch = *txt++)) {
+			ch = sys_char_map[ch] | attr_table[attr_map[ch]];
+			waddch (output, ch);
+		}
+		touchwin (stdscr);
+		wrefresh (output);
+	} else {
+		while ((ch = *txt++)) {
+			ch = sys_char_map[ch];
+			putchar (ch);
+		}
 	}
-	touchwin (stdscr);
-	wrefresh (output);
 }
 
 void