diff --git a/tarWrite.c b/tarWrite.c
index 9b6e721..e3963bb 100644
--- a/tarWrite.c
+++ b/tarWrite.c
@@ -88,5 +88,6 @@
 
 void flush_libtar_buffer(int fd) {
 	eot_count = 0;
-	buffer_status = 2;
+	if (buffer_status)
+		buffer_status = 2;
 }