diff --git a/lisp/startup.el b/lisp/startup.el
index 719f127d43e..a9e9e603f6d 100644
--- a/lisp/startup.el
+++ b/lisp/startup.el
@@ -670,6 +670,7 @@ or `CVS', and any subdirectory that contains a file named `.nosearch'."
 		   (mapconcat (lambda (obj) (prin1-to-string obj t))
 			      (cdr error) ", "))))
       'external-debugging-output)
+     (terpri 'external-debugging-output)
      (setq window-system nil)
      (kill-emacs)))