diff --git a/src/util/util.js b/src/util/util.js
index 3576eee9..bc9572aa 100644
--- a/src/util/util.js
+++ b/src/util/util.js
@@ -267,7 +267,10 @@ var Util = function() {
 			}
 			html = "<p style=\"font-size: 80%; background-color: #"+color+"; margin:0; width: 652px; word-break: break-word; padding: 5px; border-bottom: 1px solid black;\"><span style=\"color: #888;\"><b>"+heading+":</b></span>"+str+"</p>";
 		}
-		showMessages(html);
+		if (showMessages) {
+			// only call function if defined
+			showMessages(html);
+		}
 	}
 
 	this.getLeftNBits = function (string, bitcount) {