diff --git a/pmd/src/net/sourceforge/pmd/renderers/VBHTMLRenderer.java b/pmd/src/net/sourceforge/pmd/renderers/VBHTMLRenderer.java
index ac0199fc1b..a11a3b7078 100644
--- a/pmd/src/net/sourceforge/pmd/renderers/VBHTMLRenderer.java
+++ b/pmd/src/net/sourceforge/pmd/renderers/VBHTMLRenderer.java
@@ -22,12 +22,13 @@ public class VBHTMLRenderer extends AbstractRenderer {
             return;
         }
 
-        StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer(header());
+        StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
         String filename = null;
         String lineSep = PMD.EOL;
 
         boolean colorize = false;
 
+        writer.write(header());
         for (Iterator iter = report.iterator(); iter.hasNext();) {
             sb.setLength(0);
             IRuleViolation rv = (IRuleViolation) iter.next();