=== modified file 'lisp/hexl.el'
--- lisp/hexl.el	2010-01-13 08:35:10 +0000
+++ lisp/hexl.el	2010-01-14 00:38:04 +0000
@@ -779,7 +779,7 @@

 (defun hexl-printable-character (ch)
   "Return a displayable string for character CH."
-  (format "%c" (if hexl-iso
+  (format "%c" (if (not (equal hexl-iso ""))
 		   (if (or (< ch 32) (and (>= ch 127) (< ch 160)))
 		       46
 		     ch)