diff --git a/ice-9/boot-9.scm b/ice-9/boot-9.scm
index 185bdfeb9..83f1015bc 100644
--- a/ice-9/boot-9.scm
+++ b/ice-9/boot-9.scm
@@ -2891,3 +2891,8 @@
 (define-module (guile))
 
 (append! %load-path (cons "." ()))
+
+(define (inherit-print-state old-port new-port)
+  (if (pair? old-port)
+      (cons new-port (cdr old-port))
+      new-port))