diff --git a/compiler/layouter.nim b/compiler/layouter.nim
index 560e8eec75..9ddfbeabcd 100644
--- a/compiler/layouter.nim
+++ b/compiler/layouter.nim
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ proc openEmitter*(em: var Emitter, cache: IdentCache;
   em.content = newStringOfCap(16_000)
   em.indentStack = newSeqOfCap[int](30)
   em.indentStack.add 0
+  em.lastLineNumber = 1
 
 proc closeEmitter*(em: var Emitter) =
   var f = llStreamOpen(em.config.outFile, fmWrite)
diff --git a/nimpretty/tests/expected/simple.nim b/nimpretty/tests/expected/simple.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..75f570bac1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimpretty/tests/expected/simple.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+
+var x: int = 2
+
+echo x                        # bug #9144
diff --git a/nimpretty/tests/simple.nim b/nimpretty/tests/simple.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9e3c52f9bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimpretty/tests/simple.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+
+var x: int = 2
+
+echo x
+# bug #9144