In pp-display-expression there is this sexp: (let ((temp-buffer-show-function old-show-function) (old-selected (selected-window)) (window (display-buffer buf))) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (goto-char (point-min)) ; expected by some hooks ... (make-frame-visible (window-frame window)) (unwind-protect (progn (select-window window) (run-hooks 'temp-buffer-show-hook)) (select-window old-selected) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (message "See buffer %s." out-buffer-name))) An user may implement an overriding action for display-buffer that could delete old-selected.