diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index 84780fd5e6..667756c952 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -1329,7 +1329,7 @@ int print_stat_summary(FILE *fp, int files, int insertions, int deletions)
 
 	if (!files) {
 		assert(insertions == 0 && deletions == 0);
-		return fputs(_(" 0 files changed\n"), fp);
+		return fprintf(fp, "%s\n", _(" 0 files changed"));
 	}
 
 	strbuf_addf(&sb,