diff --git a/lib-src/hexl.c b/lib-src/hexl.c
index 417d9f285d1..beb170613dd 100644
--- a/lib-src/hexl.c
+++ b/lib-src/hexl.c
@@ -138,7 +138,8 @@ main (argc, argv)
 
 #ifdef MSDOS
 #if __DJGPP__ >= 2
-	  setmode (fileno (stdout), O_BINARY);
+          if (!isatty (fileno (stdout)))
+	    setmode (fileno (stdout), O_BINARY);
 #else
 	  (stdout)->_flag &= ~_IOTEXT; /* print binary */
 	  _setmode (fileno (stdout), O_BINARY);
@@ -186,7 +187,8 @@ main (argc, argv)
 	{
 #ifdef MSDOS
 #if __DJGPP__ >= 2
-	  setmode (fileno (stdout), O_BINARY);
+          if (!isatty (fileno (fp)))
+	    setmode (fileno (fp), O_BINARY);
 #else
 	  (fp)->_flag &= ~_IOTEXT; /* read binary */
 	  _setmode (fileno (fp), O_BINARY);