diff --git a/src/frontend/com_hardcopy.c b/src/frontend/com_hardcopy.c
index 881ab7d23..9a2d22e0e 100644
--- a/src/frontend/com_hardcopy.c
+++ b/src/frontend/com_hardcopy.c
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ void com_hardcopy(wordlist *wl)
             fprintf(stderr,
                     "No parameters for hardcopy command, not previous plot:\n");
             fprintf(stderr, "    Command hardcopy cannot be executed\n ");
+            DevSwitch(NULL);
             return;
         }