diff --git a/src/demo/normal.c b/src/demo/normal.c
index 9519b3d50..3048d3b5a 100644
--- a/src/demo/normal.c
+++ b/src/demo/normal.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ mandelbrot(int y, int x, int dy, int dx){
 static int
 mcell(uint32_t* c, int y, int x, int dy, int dx){
   int iter = mandelbrot(y, x, dy, dx);
-  *c = ((255 - iter) << 24u) + ((255 - iter) << 16u) + ((255 - iter) << 8u);
+  *c = (0xff << 24u) + ((255 - iter) << 16u) + ((255 - iter) << 8u) + (255 - iter);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -36,13 +36,9 @@ offset(uint32_t* rgba, int y, int x, int dx){
 // make a pixel array out from the center, blitting it as we go
 int normal_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
   int dy, dx;
-  // we can't resize (and thus can't rotate) the standard plane, so dup it
-  struct ncplane* n = ncplane_dup(notcurses_stddim_yx(nc, &dy, &dx), NULL);
-  if(n == NULL){
-    return -1;
-  }
-  ncplane_erase(n);
-  struct ncvisual* ncv = NULL;
+  struct ncplane* nstd = notcurses_stddim_yx(nc, &dy, &dx);
+  ncplane_erase(nstd);
+  struct ncplane* n = NULL;
   dy *= VSCALE; // double-block trick means both 2x resolution and even linecount yay
   uint32_t* rgba = malloc(sizeof(*rgba) * dy * dx);
   if(!rgba){
@@ -67,37 +63,39 @@ int normal_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
         goto err;
       }
     }
-    if(ncblit_rgba(n, 0, 0, dx * sizeof(*rgba), rgba, 0, 0, dy, dx) < 0){
+    if(ncblit_rgba(nstd, 0, 0, dx * sizeof(*rgba), rgba, 0, 0, dy, dx) < 0){
       goto err;
     }
     DEMO_RENDER(nc);
   }
   free(rgba);
   rgba = NULL;
-  ncv = ncvisual_from_plane(n, 0, 0, -1, -1);
-  if(!ncv){
-    goto err;
-  }
-  ncplane_erase(n);
   struct timespec scaled;
-  timespec_div(&demodelay, 16, &scaled);
-  for(int i = 1 ; i < 16 ; ++i){
+  timespec_div(&demodelay, 4, &scaled);
+  // we can't resize (and thus can't rotate) the standard plane, so dup it
+  n = ncplane_dup(nstd, NULL);
+  if(n == NULL){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  for(int i = 0 ; i < 16 ; ++i){
     demo_nanosleep(nc, &scaled);
-    if(ncvisual_rotate(ncv, M_PI / 2)){
+    if(ncplane_rotate_cw(n)){
       goto err;
     }
-    if(ncvisual_render(ncv, 0, 0, -1, -1) <= 0){
+    DEMO_RENDER(nc);
+  }
+  for(int i = 0 ; i < 16 ; ++i){
+    demo_nanosleep(nc, &scaled);
+    if(ncplane_rotate_ccw(n)){
       goto err;
     }
     DEMO_RENDER(nc);
   }
-  ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
   ncplane_destroy(n);
   return 0;
 
 err:
   free(rgba);
-  ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
   ncplane_destroy(n);
   return -1;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/fill.c b/src/lib/fill.c
index b2709275d..23a7ead0a 100644
--- a/src/lib/fill.c
+++ b/src/lib/fill.c
@@ -504,7 +504,9 @@ static int
 rotate_merge(ncplane* n, ncplane* newp){
   int dimy, dimx;
   ncplane_dim_yx(newp, &dimy, &dimx);
+fprintf(stderr, "NEWPlen: %d/%d\n", dimy, dimx);
   int ret = ncplane_resize(n, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, dimy, dimx);
+fprintf(stderr, "nlen: %d/%d\n", ncplane_dim_y(n), ncplane_dim_x(n));
   if(ret == 0){
     for(int y = 0 ; y < dimy ; ++y){
       for(int x = 0 ; x < dimx ; ++x){
@@ -526,6 +528,8 @@ int ncplane_rotate_cw(ncplane* n){
   }
   int dimy, dimx;
   ncplane_dim_yx(n, &dimy, &dimx);
+  int centy, centx;
+  ncplane_center_abs(n, &centy, &centx);
   // the topmost row consists of the leftmost two columns. the rightmost column
   // of the topmost row consists of the top half of the top two leftmost cells.
   // the penultimate column of the topmost row consists of the bottom half of
@@ -545,6 +549,11 @@ int ncplane_rotate_cw(ncplane* n){
   }
   int ret = rotate_merge(n, newp);
   ret |= ncplane_destroy(newp);
+  int cent2y, cent2x;
+  int absy, absx;
+  ncplane_center_abs(n, &cent2y, &cent2x);
+  ncplane_yx(n, &absy, &absx);
+  ncplane_move_yx(n, absy + centy - cent2y, absx + centx - cent2x);
   return ret;
 }
 
@@ -555,6 +564,8 @@ int ncplane_rotate_ccw(ncplane* n){
   }
   int dimy, dimx, targdimy, targdimx;
   ncplane_dim_yx(n, &dimy, &dimx);
+  int centy, centx;
+  ncplane_center_abs(n, &centy, &centx);
   ncplane_dim_yx(newp, &targdimy, &targdimx);
   int x = dimx - 2, y;
   // Each row of the target plane is taken from a column of the source plane.
@@ -572,6 +583,11 @@ int ncplane_rotate_ccw(ncplane* n){
   }
   int ret = rotate_merge(n, newp);
   ret |= ncplane_destroy(newp);
+  int cent2y, cent2x;
+  int absy, absx;
+  ncplane_center_abs(n, &cent2y, &cent2x);
+  ncplane_yx(n, &absy, &absx);
+  ncplane_move_yx(n, absy + centy - cent2y, absx + centx - cent2x);
   return ret;
 }