diff --git a/backend/png.c b/backend/png.c
index 7f83237f..84c19c26 100644
--- a/backend/png.c
+++ b/backend/png.c
@@ -307,7 +307,11 @@ int png_pixel_plot(struct zint_symbol *symbol, int image_height, int image_width
 
 	/* make sure we have disengaged */
 	if (png_ptr && info_ptr) png_destroy_write_struct(&png_ptr, &info_ptr);
-	fclose(wpng_info.outfile);
+	if(symbol->output_options & BARCODE_STDOUT) {
+		fflush(wpng_info.outfile);
+	} else {
+		fclose(wpng_info.outfile);
+	}
 	return 0;
 }
 #endif /* NO_PNG */