diff --git a/tty-draw.c b/tty-draw.c
index eac92a8f..c506853d 100644
--- a/tty-draw.c
+++ b/tty-draw.c
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ tty_draw_line(struct tty *tty, struct screen *s, u_int px, u_int py, u_int nx,
 			/* Work out the the empty width. */
 			if (i >= ex)
 				empty = 1;
+			else if (gcp->bg != last.bg)
+				empty = 0;
 			else
 				empty = tty_draw_line_get_empty(gcp, nx - i);