diff --git a/C/errors.c b/C/errors.c
index 77decbe27..554fd2c15 100644
--- a/C/errors.c
+++ b/C/errors.c
@@ -363,8 +363,8 @@ Error (yap_error_number type, Term where, char *format,...)
     PrologMode &= ~AbortMode;
     PrologMode |= InErrorMode;
   } else {
-    plwrite( where, DebugPutc, 0);
-    where = CopyTerm(Deref(where));
+    if (type != SYNTAX_ERROR)
+      where = CopyTerm(Deref(where));
     if (IsVarTerm(where)) {
       /* we must be careful someone gave us a copy to a local variable */
       Term t = MkVarTerm();