diff --git a/src/thermo.cpp b/src/thermo.cpp
index 52b1813152..5aebef88af 100644
--- a/src/thermo.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo.cpp
@@ -316,8 +316,7 @@ void Thermo::header()
 
   std::string hdr;
   for (int i = 0; i < nfield; i++) hdr +=  keyword[i] + std::string(" ");
-  hdr += "\n";
-  if (me == 0) utils::logmesg(lmp,hdr);
+  if (me == 0) utils::logmesg(lmp,hdr+"\n");
 }
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */