diff --git a/format.c b/format.c
index d1df2b54..bcc31d3c 100644
--- a/format.c
+++ b/format.c
@@ -1187,6 +1187,7 @@ format_loop_sessions(struct format_tree *ft, const char *fmt)
 	RB_FOREACH(s, sessions, &sessions) {
 		format_log(ft, "session loop: $%u", s->id);
 		nft = format_create(c, item, FORMAT_NONE, ft->flags);
+		nft->loop = ft->loop;
 		format_defaults(nft, ft->c, s, NULL, NULL);
 		expanded = format_expand(nft, fmt);
 		format_free(nft);
@@ -1234,6 +1235,7 @@ format_loop_windows(struct format_tree *ft, const char *fmt)
 		else
 			use = all;
 		nft = format_create(c, item, FORMAT_WINDOW|w->id, ft->flags);
+		nft->loop = ft->loop;
 		format_defaults(nft, ft->c, ft->s, wl, NULL);
 		expanded = format_expand(nft, use);
 		format_free(nft);
@@ -1282,6 +1284,7 @@ format_loop_panes(struct format_tree *ft, const char *fmt)
 		else
 			use = all;
 		nft = format_create(c, item, FORMAT_PANE|wp->id, ft->flags);
+		nft->loop = ft->loop;
 		format_defaults(nft, ft->c, ft->s, ft->wl, wp);
 		expanded = format_expand(nft, use);
 		format_free(nft);