diff --git a/screen-write.c b/screen-write.c
index 14cbd4d5..6631ab56 100644
--- a/screen-write.c
+++ b/screen-write.c
@@ -943,9 +943,9 @@ screen_write_clearstartofscreen(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, u_int bg)
 	if (s->cy > 0)
 		grid_view_clear(s->grid, 0, 0, sx, s->cy, bg);
 	if (s->cx > sx - 1)
-		grid_view_clear(s->grid, 0, s->cy, sx, 1, 8);
+		grid_view_clear(s->grid, 0, s->cy, sx, 1, bg);
 	else
-		grid_view_clear(s->grid, 0, s->cy, s->cx + 1, 1, 8);
+		grid_view_clear(s->grid, 0, s->cy, s->cx + 1, 1, bg);
 
 	screen_write_collect_clear(ctx, 0, s->cy);
 	screen_write_collect_flush(ctx, 0);