diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index b6f76e7d..e5ae5b6f 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+  - remove unnecessary close/open tags from compiled templates
+    (Monte)
   - fixed errornous creation of '//' in image_path in html_image (messju)
   - fix escapement of special chars for key vals in debug
     console (Monte)
diff --git a/libs/Smarty_Compiler.class.php b/libs/Smarty_Compiler.class.php
index 9ef3c717..bd24ce79 100644
--- a/libs/Smarty_Compiler.class.php
+++ b/libs/Smarty_Compiler.class.php
@@ -316,6 +316,9 @@ class Smarty_Compiler extends Smarty {
             $template_compiled = substr($template_compiled, 0, -1);
         }
 
+        // remove unnecessary close/open tags
+        $template_compiled = preg_replace('!\?>\n?<\?php!', '', $template_compiled);
+
         // run compiled template through postfilter functions
         if (count($this->_plugins['postfilter']) > 0) {
             foreach ($this->_plugins['postfilter'] as $filter_name => $postfilter) {