diff --git a/src/lib/kitty.c b/src/lib/kitty.c
index 7df665c39..90e2ac3ac 100644
--- a/src/lib/kitty.c
+++ b/src/lib/kitty.c
@@ -689,11 +689,11 @@ prep_animation(ncpixelimpl_e level, uint32_t** buf, int leny, int lenx, unsigned
   if(level < NCPIXEL_KITTY_ANIMATED){
     *animated = false;
     *buf = NULL;
-  }else{
-    if((*buf = malloc(lenx * leny * sizeof(uint32_t))) == NULL){
-      return -1;
-    }
-    *animated = true;
+    return 0;
+  }
+  *animated = true;
+  if((*buf = malloc(lenx * leny * sizeof(uint32_t))) == NULL){
+    return -1;
   }
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/tetris/background.h b/src/tetris/background.h
index 978aa3df5..ac973b46c 100644
--- a/src/tetris/background.h
+++ b/src/tetris/background.h
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 void DrawBackground(const std::string& s) { // drawn to the standard plane
   backg_ = std::make_unique<ncpp::Visual>(s.c_str());
-  backg_->decode();
   ncvisual_options opts{};
   opts.scaling = NCSCALE_STRETCH;
   opts.n = *nc_.get_stdplane();
+  opts.blitter = NCBLIT_PIXEL;
   opts.flags = NCVISUAL_OPTION_CHILDPLANE;
   backg_->blit(&opts);
 }