diff --git a/win/curses/cursmesg.c b/win/curses/cursmesg.c
index df45d07b8..8b9199e2f 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursmesg.c
+++ b/win/curses/cursmesg.c
@@ -338,7 +338,6 @@ curses_count_window(const char *count_text)
         winy += messageh - 1;
 
         if (countwin == NULL) {
-            pline("#");
 #ifndef PDCURSES
             countwin = newwin(1, 25, winy, winx);
 #endif /* !PDCURSES */