diff --git a/nimble/host/src/ble_monitor.c b/nimble/host/src/ble_monitor.c
index 89e6ee800..1585ab515 100644
--- a/nimble/host/src/ble_monitor.c
+++ b/nimble/host/src/ble_monitor.c
@@ -345,9 +345,12 @@ ble_monitor_out(int c)
     static char buf[MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_MONITOR_CONSOLE_BUFFER_SIZE)];
     static size_t len;
 
-    if (c != '\n' && len < sizeof(buf) - 1) {
+    if (c != '\n') {
         buf[len++] = c;
-        return c;
+
+        if (len < sizeof(buf) - 1) {
+            return c;
+        }
     }
 
     buf[len++] = '\0';