diff --git a/utils/Spiff/output.c b/utils/Spiff/output.c
index db157468d21..19b4bab3d30 100644
--- a/utils/Spiff/output.c
+++ b/utils/Spiff/output.c
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ _O_start_standout()
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		_O_doing_ul = 1;
+		/* _O_doing_ul = 1; */ /* disabled by brg 13-April-2004 - this
+ makes the output unreadable */
 	}
 }