diff --git a/common/msg.c b/common/msg.c
index f435d6e206..20f1ce0abb 100644
--- a/common/msg.c
+++ b/common/msg.c
@@ -257,7 +257,9 @@ void mp_msg_flush_status_line(struct mp_log *log, bool clear)
         goto done;
 
     if (!clear) {
-        fprintf(stderr, TERM_ESC_RESTORE_CURSOR "\n");
+        if (log->root->isatty[STDERR_FILENO])
+            fprintf(stderr, TERM_ESC_RESTORE_CURSOR);
+        fprintf(stderr, "\n");
         log->root->blank_lines = 0;
         log->root->status_lines = 0;
         goto done;
diff --git a/osdep/terminal-unix.c b/osdep/terminal-unix.c
index 72d0d14899..be0463b871 100644
--- a/osdep/terminal-unix.c
+++ b/osdep/terminal-unix.c
@@ -424,8 +424,10 @@ static MP_THREAD_VOID terminal_thread(void *ptr)
             (void)read(stop_cont_pipe[0], &c, 1);
             if (c == PIPE_STOP) {
                 do_deactivate_getch2();
-                (void)write(STDERR_FILENO, TERM_ESC_RESTORE_CURSOR,
-                            sizeof(TERM_ESC_RESTORE_CURSOR) - 1);
+                if (isatty(STDERR_FILENO)) {
+                    (void)write(STDERR_FILENO, TERM_ESC_RESTORE_CURSOR,
+                                sizeof(TERM_ESC_RESTORE_CURSOR) - 1);
+                }
                 // trying to reset SIGTSTP handler to default and raise it will
                 // result in a race and there's no other way to invoke the
                 // default handler. so just invoke SIGSTOP since it's