diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index 9309a9a54..5d3caad94 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ Fixed bugs:
 
 * if the basedir contained .. or . dirs, and the build file name contained
   .. or ., the basedir was set incorrectly. Bugzilla Report 26765.
+
+* regression from ant 1.5, exec task outputted two redundant trailing newlines.
+  Bugzilla Report 27546.
+
 Other changes:
 --------------
 
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/LogOutputStream.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/LogOutputStream.java
index 082beb90f..8b78e5f2e 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/LogOutputStream.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/LogOutputStream.java
@@ -85,7 +85,9 @@ public class LogOutputStream extends OutputStream {
      * Flush this log stream
      */
     public void flush() {
-       processBuffer();
+        if (buffer.size() > 0) {
+            processBuffer();
+        }
     }