diff --git a/Messages.hs b/Messages.hs
index 563bd7e815..7fcee28067 100644
--- a/Messages.hs
+++ b/Messages.hs
@@ -124,14 +124,12 @@ showSideAction m = Annex.getState Annex.output >>= go
   where
 	go st
 		| sideActionBlock st == StartBlock = do
-			go' st
+			go'
 			let st' = st { sideActionBlock = InBlock }
 			Annex.changeState $ \s -> s { Annex.output = st' }
 		| sideActionBlock st == InBlock = return ()
-		| otherwise = go' st
-	go' st = do
-		liftIO $ clearProgressMeter st
-		outputMessage JSON.none $ encodeBS' $ "(" ++ m ++ "...)\n"
+		| otherwise = go'
+	go' = outputMessage JSON.none $ encodeBS' $ "(" ++ m ++ "...)\n"
 			
 showStoringStateAction :: Annex ()
 showStoringStateAction = showSideAction "recording state in git"
diff --git a/Messages/Internal.hs b/Messages/Internal.hs
index 138f7df2bd..30cbafc1b0 100644
--- a/Messages/Internal.hs
+++ b/Messages/Internal.hs
@@ -25,8 +25,12 @@ outputMessage = outputMessage' bufferJSON
 outputMessage' :: (JSONBuilder -> MessageState -> Annex Bool) -> JSONBuilder -> S.ByteString -> Annex ()
 outputMessage' jsonoutputter jsonbuilder msg = withMessageState $ \s -> case outputType s of
 	NormalOutput
-		| concurrentOutputEnabled s -> concurrentMessage s False (decodeBS msg) q
-		| otherwise -> liftIO $ flushed $ S.putStr msg
+		| concurrentOutputEnabled s -> do
+			liftIO $ clearProgressMeter s
+			concurrentMessage s False (decodeBS msg) q
+		| otherwise -> do
+			liftIO $ clearProgressMeter s
+			liftIO $ flushed $ S.putStr msg
 	JSONOutput _ -> void $ jsonoutputter jsonbuilder s
 	QuietOutput -> q
 	SerializedOutput h _ -> do