Index: /trunk/ccl/hemlock/src/interp.lisp
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ccl/hemlock/src/interp.lisp	(revision 862)
+++ /trunk/ccl/hemlock/src/interp.lisp	(revision 863)
@@ -468,5 +468,6 @@
                        (command 
                         (let ((punt t))
-                          (clear-echo-area)
+                          (unless (eq *current-buffer* *echo-area-buffer*)
+                            (clear-echo-area))
                           (catch 'command-loop-catcher
                             (dolist (c t-bindings)