diff --git a/screen-write.c b/screen-write.c
index 43d12941..f630e0c8 100644
--- a/screen-write.c
+++ b/screen-write.c
@@ -1153,11 +1153,9 @@ screen_write_cell(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, const struct grid_cell *gc)
 		return;
 	ctx->cells++;
 
-	/* Flush any existing scrolling. */
-	screen_write_collect_flush(ctx, 1);
-
 	/* If the width is zero, combine onto the previous character. */
 	if (width == 0) {
+		screen_write_collect_flush(ctx, 0);
 		if ((gc = screen_write_combine(ctx, &gc->data, &xx)) != 0) {
 			screen_write_cursormove(ctx, xx, s->cy);
 			screen_write_initctx(ctx, &ttyctx);
@@ -1167,6 +1165,9 @@ screen_write_cell(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, const struct grid_cell *gc)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	/* Flush any existing scrolling. */
+	screen_write_collect_flush(ctx, 1);
+
 	/* If this character doesn't fit, ignore it. */
 	if ((~s->mode & MODE_WRAP) &&
 	    width > 1 &&