diff --git a/src/frontend/com_hardcopy.c b/src/frontend/com_hardcopy.c
index 9734253bc..0db88191f 100644
--- a/src/frontend/com_hardcopy.c
+++ b/src/frontend/com_hardcopy.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <cpdefs.h>
 #include <fteinput.h>
 #include <ftedev.h>
+#include "ftedbgra.h"
 
 #include "plotting/plotit.h"
 #include "plotting/graphdb.h"
@@ -60,6 +61,10 @@ com_hardcopy(wordlist *wl)
     /* enable screen plot selection for these display types */
     foundit = 0;
 
+    /* save current graphics context, because plotit() will create a new
+     currentgraph */
+    PushGraphContext(currentgraph);
+
 #ifndef X_DISPLAY_MISSING
     if (!wl && hc_button) {
 
@@ -166,5 +171,8 @@ com_hardcopy(wordlist *wl)
     if (tempf && *device)
         (void) unlink(fname);
 
+    /* restore previous graphics context by retrieving the previous currentgraph */
+    PopGraphContext();
+
     return;
 }