diff --git a/lib/output.js b/lib/output.js
index b7bf79d2..93aa7f6b 100644
--- a/lib/output.js
+++ b/lib/output.js
@@ -82,6 +82,16 @@ function OutputStream(options) {
         last = str;
         str = String(str);
         var ch = str.charAt(0);
+        if (might_need_semicolon) {
+            if (";}".indexOf(ch) < 0 && !/[;]$/.test(OUTPUT)) {
+                OUTPUT += ";";
+                current_col++;
+                current_pos++;
+                if (!options.beautify)
+                    might_need_space = false;
+            }
+            might_need_semicolon = false;
+        }
         if (might_need_space) {
             if ((is_identifier_char(last_char())
                  && (is_identifier_char(ch) || ch == "\\"))
@@ -94,14 +104,6 @@ function OutputStream(options) {
             }
             might_need_space = false;
         }
-        if (might_need_semicolon) {
-            if (";}".indexOf(ch) < 0 && !/[;]$/.test(OUTPUT)) {
-                OUTPUT += ";";
-                current_col++;
-                current_pos++;
-            }
-            might_need_semicolon = false;
-        }
         var a = str.split(/\r?\n/), n = a.length;
         current_line += n;
         if (n == 1) {