diff --git a/format.c b/format.c
index 857bacac..2e599c60 100644
--- a/format.c
+++ b/format.c
@@ -2543,7 +2543,7 @@ format_defaults(struct format_tree *ft, struct client *c, struct session *s,
 	else
 		log_debug("%s: s=none", __func__);
 	if (wl != NULL)
-		log_debug("%s: wl=%u w=@%u", __func__, wl->idx, wl->window->id);
+		log_debug("%s: wl=%u", __func__, wl->idx);
 	else
 		log_debug("%s: wl=none", __func__);
 	if (wp != NULL)
@@ -2717,11 +2717,9 @@ format_defaults_winlink(struct format_tree *ft, struct winlink *wl)
 	u_int		 ox, oy, sx, sy;
 
 	if (ft->w == NULL)
-		ft->w = wl->window;
+		format_defaults_window(ft, w);
 	ft->wl = wl;
 
-	format_defaults_window(ft, w);
-
 	if (c != NULL) {
 		flag = tty_window_offset(&c->tty, &ox, &oy, &sx, &sy);
 		format_add(ft, "window_bigger", "%d", flag);
@@ -2781,7 +2779,7 @@ format_defaults_pane(struct format_tree *ft, struct window_pane *wp)
 	struct window_mode_entry	*wme;
 
 	if (ft->w == NULL)
-		ft->w = w;
+		format_defaults_window(ft, w);
 	ft->wp = wp;
 
 	format_add(ft, "history_size", "%u", gd->hsize);