diff --git a/features/docs/formatters/json_formatter.feature b/features/docs/formatters/json_formatter.feature
index a09915afc2..6a318197a3 100644
--- a/features/docs/formatters/json_formatter.feature
+++ b/features/docs/formatters/json_formatter.feature
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ Feature: JSON output formatter
         File.open("screenshot.png", "w") { |file| file << "foo" }
         embed "screenshot.png", "image/png"
       end
+
+      Given /^I print from step definition/ do
+        puts "from step definition"
+      end
       """
     And a file named "features/embed.feature" with:
       """
@@ -32,6 +36,15 @@ Feature: JSON output formatter
           Given I embed a screenshot
 
       """
+    And a file named "features/print_from_step_definition.feature" with:
+      """
+      Feature: A print from step definition feature
+
+        Scenario:
+          Given I print from step definition
+          And I print from step definition
+
+      """
 
   # Need to investigate why this won't pass in-process. error_message doesn't get det?
   @spawn
@@ -310,3 +323,62 @@ Feature: JSON output formatter
     ]
 
     """
+
+  Scenario: print from step definition
+    When I run `cucumber --format json features/print_from_step_definition.feature`
+    Then it should pass with JSON:
+    """
+    [
+      {
+        "uri": "features/print_from_step_definition.feature",
+        "id": "a-print-from-step-definition-feature",
+        "keyword": "Feature",
+        "name": "A print from step definition feature",
+        "line": 1,
+        "description": "",
+        "elements": [
+          {
+            "id": "a-print-from-step-definition-feature;",
+            "keyword": "Scenario",
+            "name": "",
+            "line": 3,
+            "description": "",
+            "type": "scenario",
+            "steps": [
+              {
+                "keyword": "Given ",
+                "name": "I print from step definition",
+                "line": 4,
+                "output": [
+		  "from step definition"
+                ],
+                "match": {
+                  "location": "features/step_definitions/json_steps.rb:6"
+                },
+                "result": {
+                  "status": "passed",
+                  "duration": 1
+                }
+              },
+              {
+                "keyword": "And ",
+                "name": "I print from step definition",
+                "line": 5,
+                "output": [
+		  "from step definition"
+                ],
+                "match": {
+                  "location": "features/step_definitions/json_steps.rb:6"
+                },
+                "result": {
+                  "status": "passed",
+                  "duration": 1
+                }
+              }
+            ]
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    ]
+
+    """
diff --git a/lib/cucumber/formatter/gherkin_formatter_adapter.rb b/lib/cucumber/formatter/gherkin_formatter_adapter.rb
index 0e8718d9b0..598c9fb55c 100644
--- a/lib/cucumber/formatter/gherkin_formatter_adapter.rb
+++ b/lib/cucumber/formatter/gherkin_formatter_adapter.rb
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ def embed(file, mime_type, label)
           @gf.embedding(mime_type, data)
         end
       end
+
+      def puts(message)
+        @gf.write(message)
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/cucumber/reports/legacy_formatter.rb b/lib/cucumber/reports/legacy_formatter.rb
index 26aa010b1c..b7e60ccc6e 100644
--- a/lib/cucumber/reports/legacy_formatter.rb
+++ b/lib/cucumber/reports/legacy_formatter.rb
@@ -65,8 +65,7 @@ def initialize(runtime, formatters)
 
       def_delegators :formatter,
         :embed,
-        :ask,
-        :puts
+        :ask
 
       def before_test_case(test_case)
         printer.before_test_case(test_case)
@@ -85,6 +84,10 @@ def after_test_case(test_case, result)
         printer.after_test_case(test_case, result)
       end
 
+      def puts(message)
+        printer.puts(message)
+      end
+
       def done
         printer.after
       end
@@ -153,6 +156,10 @@ def after
           self
         end
 
+        def puts(message)
+          @child.puts(message)
+        end
+
         private
 
         def timer
@@ -189,6 +196,7 @@ def before
           Legacy::Ast::Comments.new(node.comments).accept(formatter)
           Legacy::Ast::Tags.new(node.tags).accept(formatter)
           formatter.feature_name node.keyword, indented(node.name) # TODO: change the core's new AST to return name and description separately instead of this lumped-together field
+          @delayed_messages = []
           self
         end
 
@@ -209,6 +217,7 @@ def after_test_step(test_step, result)
         def after_test_case(*args)
           if current_test_step_source.step_result.nil?
             print_step_container
+            @delayed_messages = []
           end
           @child.after_test_case
           @previous_test_case_background = @current_test_case_background
@@ -256,6 +265,10 @@ def after
           self
         end
 
+        def puts(message)
+          @delayed_messages << message
+        end
+
         private
 
         def print_step_container
@@ -292,6 +305,14 @@ def print_step
           return unless current_test_step_source.step_result
           print_step_container
           @child.step(current_test_step_source.step, current_test_step_source.step_result)
+          print_messages
+        end
+
+        def print_messages
+          @delayed_messages.each do |message|
+            formatter.puts(message)
+          end
+          @delayed_messages = []
         end
 
         def set_child_calling_before(child)