diff --git a/_pytest/capture.py b/_pytest/capture.py
index 0b7f615bc..f48dc19fa 100644
--- a/_pytest/capture.py
+++ b/_pytest/capture.py
@@ -238,7 +238,8 @@ class EncodedFile(object):
         self.write(data)
 
     def __getattr__(self, name):
-        return getattr(self.buffer, name)
+        if name != "buffer":
+            return getattr(self.buffer, name)
 
 
 class MultiCapture(object):