diff --git a/flang/runtime/io-stmt.cpp b/flang/runtime/io-stmt.cpp
index fba77171062e..ac2a7e0a11ed 100644
--- a/flang/runtime/io-stmt.cpp
+++ b/flang/runtime/io-stmt.cpp
@@ -318,8 +318,13 @@ void ExternalIoStatementState<DIR>::CompleteOperation() {
     if (!mutableModes().nonAdvancing || GetIoStat() == IostatEor) {
       FinishReadingRecord();
     }
-  } else {
+  } else { // output
     if (mutableModes().nonAdvancing) {
+      // Make effects of positioning past the last Emit() visible with blanks.
+      std::int64_t n{unit().positionInRecord - unit().furthestPositionInRecord};
+      unit().positionInRecord = unit().furthestPositionInRecord;
+      while (n-- > 0 && unit().Emit(" ", 1, 1, *this)) {
+      }
       unit().leftTabLimit = unit().furthestPositionInRecord;
     } else {
       unit().leftTabLimit.reset();