diff --git a/cmd-queue.c b/cmd-queue.c
index 75b5d8f9..59c7a35c 100644
--- a/cmd-queue.c
+++ b/cmd-queue.c
@@ -551,7 +551,10 @@ cmdq_error(struct cmdq_item *item, const char *fmt, ...)
 			msg = utf8_sanitize(tmp);
 			free(tmp);
 		}
-		file_error(c, "%s\n", msg);
+		if (c->flags & CLIENT_CONTROL)
+			file_print(c, "%s\n", msg);
+		else
+			file_error(c, "%s\n", msg);
 		c->retval = 1;
 	} else {
 		*msg = toupper((u_char) *msg);