diff --git a/screen-write.c b/screen-write.c
index 4b3954d3..8b28ccbb 100644
--- a/screen-write.c
+++ b/screen-write.c
@@ -1071,9 +1071,6 @@ screen_write_cell(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx,
 		return;
 	}
 
-	/* Initialise the redraw context, saving the last cell. */
-	screen_write_initctx(ctx, &ttyctx, 1);
-
 	/* If in insert mode, make space for the cells. */
 	if (s->mode & MODE_INSERT && s->cx <= screen_size_x(s) - width) {
 		xx = screen_size_x(s) - s->cx - width;
@@ -1087,6 +1084,9 @@ screen_write_cell(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx,
 		s->cx = 0;	/* carriage return */
 	}
 
+	/* Initialise the redraw context, saving the last cell. */
+	screen_write_initctx(ctx, &ttyctx, 1);
+
 	/* Sanity checks. */
 	if (((s->mode & MODE_WRAP) && s->cx > screen_size_x(s) - width)
 	    || s->cy > screen_size_y(s) - 1)