diff --git a/rc/tools/format.kak b/rc/tools/format.kak
index 72d71430..2435af0c 100644
--- a/rc/tools/format.kak
+++ b/rc/tools/format.kak
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ define-command format-selections -docstring "Format the selections individually"
             echo "fail 'The option ''formatcmd'' must be set'"
         fi
     }
-    evaluate-commands -draft -no-hooks -save-regs '|' %{
+    evaluate-commands -draft -no-hooks -save-regs 'e|' %{
+        set-register e nop
         set-register '|' %{
             format_in="$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}"/kak-formatter.XXXXXX)"
             format_out="$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}"/kak-formatter.XXXXXX)"
@@ -24,12 +25,13 @@ define-command format-selections -docstring "Format the selections individually"
             if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
                 cat "$format_out"
             else
-                printf 'eval -client %s %%{ fail formatter returned an error %s }\n' "$kak_client" "$?" | kak -p "$kak_session"
+                echo "set-register e fail formatter returned an error (exit code $?)" >"$kak_command_fifo"
                 cat "$format_in"
             fi
             rm -f "$format_in" "$format_out"
         }
         execute-keys '|<ret>'
+        %reg{e}
     }
 }