diff --git a/bin/sh/output.c b/bin/sh/output.c
index c3458272785e..ced01d246a1c 100644
--- a/bin/sh/output.c
+++ b/bin/sh/output.c
@@ -254,14 +254,7 @@ flushout(struct output *dest)
 void
 freestdout(void)
 {
-	INTOFF;
-	if (output.buf) {
-		ckfree(output.buf);
-		output.nextc = NULL;
-		output.buf = NULL;
-		output.bufend = NULL;
-	}
-	INTON;
+	output.nextc = output.buf;
 }