diff --git a/src/cat.S b/src/cat.S
index 78d3e0e..be77763 100644
--- a/src/cat.S
+++ b/src/cat.S
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ cat_file:
     call add_line_numbers
     xori s1, s1, 1 # flip the mod buf to write to
     mv s2, a1 # update the current byte count
+    j .LNoNumbers # -n and -b are exclusive
     .LNoNonblankNumbers:
     
     la t1, number