3 files changed, 48 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/src/nvim/eval.c b/src/nvim/eval.c
index 1640729c94..a4606f76f3 100644
--- a/src/nvim/eval.c
+++ b/src/nvim/eval.c
@@ -8331,6 +8331,8 @@ static void f_execute(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv, FunPtr fptr)
   const bool save_emsg_noredir = emsg_noredir;
   const bool save_redir_off = redir_off;
   garray_T *const save_capture_ga = capture_ga;
+  const int save_msg_col = msg_col;
+  bool echo_output = false;
 
   if (check_secure()) {
     return;
@@ -8343,6 +8345,9 @@ static void f_execute(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv, FunPtr fptr)
     if (s == NULL) {
       return;
     }
+    if (*s == NUL) {
+      echo_output = true;
+    }
     if (strncmp(s, "silent", 6) == 0) {
       msg_silent++;
     }
@@ -8358,6 +8363,9 @@ static void f_execute(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv, FunPtr fptr)
   ga_init(&capture_local, (int)sizeof(char), 80);
   capture_ga = &capture_local;
   redir_off = false;
+  if (!echo_output) {
+    msg_col = 0;  // prevent leading spaces
+  }
 
   if (argvars[0].v_type != VAR_LIST) {
     do_cmdline_cmd(tv_get_string(&argvars[0]));
@@ -8376,6 +8384,16 @@ static void f_execute(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv, FunPtr fptr)
   emsg_silent = save_emsg_silent;
   emsg_noredir = save_emsg_noredir;
   redir_off = save_redir_off;
+  // "silent reg" or "silent echo x" leaves msg_col somewhere in the line.
+  if (echo_output) {
+    // When not working silently: put it in column zero.  A following
+    // "echon" will overwrite the message, unavoidably.
+    msg_col = 0;
+  } else {
+    // When working silently: Put it back where it was, since nothing
+    // should have been written.
+    msg_col = save_msg_col;
+  }
 
   ga_append(capture_ga, NUL);
   rettv->v_type = VAR_STRING;
diff --git a/src/nvim/testdir/setup.vim b/src/nvim/testdir/setup.vim
index 011433f19e..c75b00d5de 100644
--- a/src/nvim/testdir/setup.vim
+++ b/src/nvim/testdir/setup.vim
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ set nohidden smarttab noautoindent noautoread complete-=i noruler noshowcmd
 set listchars=eol:$
 set fillchars=vert:\|,fold:-
 set shortmess-=F
+set laststatus=1
 " Prevent Nvim log from writing to stderr.
 let $NVIM_LOG_FILE = exists($NVIM_LOG_FILE) ? $NVIM_LOG_FILE : 'Xnvim.log'
 
diff --git a/src/nvim/testdir/test_execute_func.vim b/src/nvim/testdir/test_execute_func.vim
index 6f61bede93..eb84a6739d 100644
--- a/src/nvim/testdir/test_execute_func.vim
+++ b/src/nvim/testdir/test_execute_func.vim
@@ -53,3 +53,32 @@ func Test_execute_list()
   call assert_equal("", execute([]))
   call assert_equal("", execute(v:_null_list))
 endfunc
+
+func Test_execute_does_not_change_col()
+  echo ''
+  echon 'abcd'
+  let x = execute('silent echo 234343')
+  echon 'xyz'
+  let text = ''
+  for col in range(1, 7)
+    let text .= nr2char(screenchar(&lines, col))
+  endfor
+  call assert_equal('abcdxyz', text)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_execute_not_silent()
+  echo ''
+  echon 'abcd'
+  let x = execute('echon 234', '')
+  echo 'xyz'
+  let text1 = ''
+  for col in range(1, 8)
+    let text1 .= nr2char(screenchar(&lines - 1, col))
+  endfor
+  call assert_equal('abcd234 ', text1)
+  let text2 = ''
+  for col in range(1, 4)
+    let text2 .= nr2char(screenchar(&lines, col))
+  endfor
+  call assert_equal('xyz ', text2)
+endfunc