diff --git a/source/qb64.bas b/source/qb64.bas
index 3e646b49f..e3a6153ef 100644
--- a/source/qb64.bas
+++ b/source/qb64.bas
@@ -22335,7 +22335,7 @@ SUB xprint (a$, ca$, n)
             IF puformat$ = "" THEN Give_Error "Expected PRINT USING formatstring ; ...": EXIT SUB
             IF i = n THEN Give_Error "Expected PRINT USING formatstring ; ...": EXIT SUB
             'create build string
-            PRINT #12, "tqbs=qbs_new(0,0);"
+            IF TQBSset = 0 THEN PRINT #12, "tqbs=qbs_new(0,0);"
             'set format start/index variable
             PRINT #12, "tmp_long=0;" 'scan format from beginning
 
@@ -22439,6 +22439,7 @@ SUB xprint (a$, ca$, n)
     e$ = ""
     last = 0
     PRINT #12, "tqbs=qbs_new(0,0);" 'initialize the temp string
+    TQBSset = -1 'set the temporary flag so we don't create a temp string twice, in case USING comes after something
     FOR i = 2 TO n
         a2$ = getelement(ca$, i)
         IF a2$ = "(" THEN b = b + 1