diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f71188f7..30f9578c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 ### Added
  - S" now works in interpretation mode. It returns a transient buffer.
  - STRING, stores a counted string.
+### Fixed
+ - V: crash when entering ":w!"
 
 ## [5.0.0] - 2024-11-19
 ### Added
diff --git a/forth/v.fs b/forth/v.fs
index e4c0fab4..7f8b01ff 100644
--- a/forth/v.fs
+++ b/forth/v.fs
@@ -579,7 +579,8 @@ case \ keys that can quit
       '!' of
         need-refresh!
         '!' emit here $f accept
-        ?dup 0= if exit then
+        dup 0= if clear-status exit
+               then
         filename c! here
         filename count move
         write-file