diff --git a/src/sbbs3/answer.cpp b/src/sbbs3/answer.cpp
index e0cdce59878b34428dcc7cd0b17a65ce6ab72bf8..62486e3147739c16e44db3c3e834d9b2283b5131 100644
--- a/src/sbbs3/answer.cpp
+++ b/src/sbbs3/answer.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ bool sbbs_t::answer()
 		}
 	}
 
-	if(!(telnet_mode&TELNET_MODE_OFF)) {
+	if(online && !(telnet_mode&TELNET_MODE_OFF)) {
 		/* Disable Telnet Terminal Echo */
 		request_telnet_opt(TELNET_WILL,TELNET_ECHO);
 		/* Will suppress Go Ahead */