diff --git a/bin/cat/cat.c b/bin/cat/cat.c
index 0d030e1..a2aff71 100644
--- a/bin/cat/cat.c
+++ b/bin/cat/cat.c
@@ -184,10 +184,16 @@ cook_cat(FILE *fp)
 				} else
 					gobble = 0;
 			}
-			if (nflag && (!bflag || ch != '\n')) {
-				fprintf(stdout, "%6d\t", ++line);
-				if (ferror(stdout))
-					break;
+			if (nflag) {
+				if (!bflag || ch != '\n') {
+					fprintf(stdout, "%6d\t", ++line);
+					if (ferror(stdout))
+						break;
+				} else if (eflag) {
+					fprintf(stdout, "%6s\t", "");
+					if (ferror(stdout))
+						break;
+				}
 			}
 		}
 		if (ch == '\n') {