diff --git a/external/bsd/nvi/dist/vi/vs_refresh.c b/external/bsd/nvi/dist/vi/vs_refresh.c
index 84dfb56e1648..3d473bc0a645 100644
--- a/external/bsd/nvi/dist/vi/vs_refresh.c
+++ b/external/bsd/nvi/dist/vi/vs_refresh.c
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ done_cursor:
 	}
 #else
 	if (vip->sc_smap == NULL) {
-		if (F_ISSET(sp, SC_SCR_REFORMAT))
+		if (F_ISSET(sp, SC_SCR_REFORMAT) && !O_ISSET(sp, O_NUMBER))
 			abort(); /* XXX infinite recursion */
 		F_SET(sp, SC_SCR_REFORMAT);
 		return (vs_paint(sp, flags));