diff --git a/unix/uxmisc.c b/unix/uxmisc.c
index 473aa94e..e65a3869 100644
--- a/unix/uxmisc.c
+++ b/unix/uxmisc.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void dputs(char *buf)
 	debug_fp = fopen("debug.log", "w");
     }
 
-    write(1, buf, strlen(buf));
+    if (write(1, buf, strlen(buf)) < 0) {} /* 'error check' to placate gcc */
 
     fputs(buf, debug_fp);
     fflush(debug_fp);