diff --git a/multiqc/utils/report.py b/multiqc/utils/report.py
index 77dc6e9a69..69b43578b9 100644
--- a/multiqc/utils/report.py
+++ b/multiqc/utils/report.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import mimetypes
 import os
 import re
+import sys
 import tempfile
 import time
 from collections import defaultdict
@@ -314,8 +315,9 @@ def add_file(fn, root):
         total=len(searchfiles),
         desc="Searching",
         unit="file",
+        file=sys.stdout,
         disable=config.no_ansi or config.quiet,
-        bar_format=f"{BLUE}| {'searching':>17} {RESET}| " + "{bar} {percentage:3.0f}% {n_fmt}/{total_fmt} {desc}",
+        bar_format=f"{BLUE}| {'searching':>17} {RESET}| " + "{bar:50} {percentage:3.0f}% {n_fmt}/{total_fmt} {desc}",
     ) as pbar:
         for i, sf in enumerate(searchfiles):
             # Update the progress bar description with the file being searched