diff --git a/Common/gmsh.cpp b/Common/gmsh.cpp
index 7b63332cb85ba7bdecefc9fdf17db7f3cfecbe18..4e906edc2d71b4d19c0fc5c1a70ac6bab930b82f 100644
--- a/Common/gmsh.cpp
+++ b/Common/gmsh.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ static int _initialized = 0;
 static bool isInitialized()
 {
   if(!_initialized){
+    // make sure stuff gets printed out
+    CTX::instance()->terminal = 1;
     Msg::Error("Gmsh has not been initialized");
     return false;
   }