diff --git a/common/content/io.js b/common/content/io.js
index 8254151d..1d63684d 100644
--- a/common/content/io.js
+++ b/common/content/io.js
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ lookup:
                                 else
                                 {
                                     // execute a normal liberator command
-                                    liberator.execute(line);
+                                    liberator.execute(line, null, true);
                                 }
                             }
                         }
diff --git a/common/content/liberator.js b/common/content/liberator.js
index 27ec275c..62f150f9 100644
--- a/common/content/liberator.js
+++ b/common/content/liberator.js
@@ -856,7 +856,7 @@ const liberator = (function () //{{{
         },
 
         // Execute an Ex command like str=":zoom 300"
-        execute: function (str, modifiers)
+        execute: function (str, modifiers, silent)
         {
             // skip comments and blank lines
             if (/^\s*("|$)/.test(str))
@@ -888,7 +888,8 @@ const liberator = (function () //{{{
 
             if (err)
                 return liberator.echoerr(err);
-            commandline.command = str.replace(/^\s*:\s*/, "");
+            if (!silent)
+                commandline.command = str.replace(/^\s*:\s*/, "");
             command.execute(args, special, count, modifiers);
         },