diff --git a/pykat/finesse.py b/pykat/finesse.py
index 1936dca9018df069111e54161c49dd89af350729..f709805afa07ab1054e3a00d96f93a54ccb60050 100644
--- a/pykat/finesse.py
+++ b/pykat/finesse.py
@@ -429,7 +429,8 @@ class kat(object):
             [out,errpipe] = p.communicate()
             if printout == 1: 
                 print out
-            print ""
+            else:
+                if printerr == 1: print ""
 
             # get the version number
             ix = out.find('build ') + 6