diff --git a/ed.c b/ed.c
index ede4c51..3775b59 100644
--- a/ed.c
+++ b/ed.c
@@ -795,7 +795,8 @@ dowrite(const char *fname, int trunc)
 	if (r)
 		error("input/output error");
 	strcpy(savfname, fname);
-	modflag = 0;
+	if (!sh)
+		modflag = 0;
 	curln = line;
 	if (optdiag)
 		printf("%zu\n", bytecount);
diff --git a/tests/0017-ed.sh b/tests/0017-ed.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..26c4b29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/0017-ed.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+../ed -s /dev/null <<EOF | grep 'file modified' > /dev/null
+a
+1
+2
+.
+w !echo
+q
+h
+EOF