To provide a journal printer having a function for setting thermal sheet automatically in which an abnormality is detected quickly in the process for setting thermal sheet automatically and an operator can be urged to reset thermal sheet.

When a thermal sheet 1a is being set automatically, disconnection check of a print head 4, print check and winding check are conducted sequentially. When an abnormality is detected in any check, the thermal sheet 1a is discharged by driving a carry motor 10 reversely at the detection timing of abnormality and an indicator 18 attached to a feed switch 11 and informing the abnormality is flickered.