diff --git a/status.c b/status.c
index 89912114..332f8fd6 100644
--- a/status.c
+++ b/status.c
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ status_redraw(struct client *c)
 	struct session			*s = c->session;
 	struct screen_write_ctx		 ctx;
 	struct grid_cell		 gc;
-	u_int				 lines, i, width = c->tty.sx;
+	u_int				 lines, i, n, width = c->tty.sx;
 	int				 flags, force = 0, changed = 0;
 	struct options_entry		*o;
 	union options_value		*ov;
@@ -364,15 +364,17 @@ status_redraw(struct client *c)
 
 	/* Write the status lines. */
 	o = options_get(s->options, "status-format");
-	if (o == NULL)
-		screen_write_clearscreen(&ctx, gc.bg);
-	else {
+	if (o == NULL) {
+		for (n = 0; n < width * lines; n++)
+			screen_write_putc(&ctx, &gc, ' ');
+	} else {
 		for (i = 0; i < lines; i++) {
 			screen_write_cursormove(&ctx, 0, i, 0);
 
 			ov = options_array_get(o, i);
 			if (ov == NULL) {
-				screen_write_clearline(&ctx, gc.bg);
+				for (n = 0; n < width; n++)
+					screen_write_putc(&ctx, &gc, ' ');
 				continue;
 			}
 			sle = &sl->entries[i];
@@ -386,7 +388,10 @@ status_redraw(struct client *c)
 			}
 			changed = 1;
 
-			screen_write_clearline(&ctx, gc.bg);
+			for (n = 0; n < width; n++)
+				screen_write_putc(&ctx, &gc, ' ');
+			screen_write_cursormove(&ctx, 0, i, 0);
+
 			status_free_ranges(&sle->ranges);
 			format_draw(&ctx, &gc, width, expanded, &sle->ranges);