diff --git a/lisp/saveplace.el b/lisp/saveplace.el
index 3dc015f2c22..8297ab76443 100644
--- a/lisp/saveplace.el
+++ b/lisp/saveplace.el
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ may have changed) back to `save-place-alist'."
                       coding-system-for-write))
       (let ((print-length nil)
             (print-level nil))
-        (pp save-place-alist (current-buffer)))
+        (prin1 save-place-alist (current-buffer)))
       (let ((version-control
              (cond
               ((null save-place-version-control) nil)