diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index d06d43730..ee4306bbe 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -899,8 +899,8 @@ pool_load_direct(egcpool* pool, cell* c, const char* gcluster, int bytes, int co
     assert(cols < 2);
     pool_release(pool, c);
     c->channels &= ~(CELL_WIDEASIAN_MASK | CELL_NOBACKGROUND_MASK);
+    c->gcluster = 0;
     ((unsigned char*)&c->gcluster)[0] = *gcluster;
-    ((unsigned char*)&c->gcluster)[1] = 0;
     return bytes;
   }
   // FIXME also shaded blocks! ░ etc. are there combined EGCs involving these?
diff --git a/tests/palette.cpp b/tests/palette.cpp
index 224773c13..85995f3a4 100644
--- a/tests/palette.cpp
+++ b/tests/palette.cpp
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@ TEST_CASE("Palette256") {
   // write it to an ncplane, and verify attributes via reflection
   SUBCASE("PutCAttrs") {
     cell c = CELL_TRIVIAL_INITIALIZER;
-    cell_load_simple(n_, &c, 'X');
+    CHECK(1 == cell_load_simple(n_, &c, 'X'));
     CHECK(0 == cell_set_fg_palindex(&c, 0x20));
     CHECK(0 == cell_set_bg_palindex(&c, 0x40));
-    CHECK(0 < ncplane_putc_yx(n_, 0, 0, &c));
+    CHECK(1 == ncplane_putc_yx(n_, 0, 0, &c));
     cell_release(n_, &c);
     cell r = CELL_TRIVIAL_INITIALIZER;
     CHECK(0 < ncplane_at_yx_cell(n_, 0, 0, &r));