diff --git a/src/lib/direct.c b/src/lib/direct.c
index 018df3069..abb369aa5 100644
--- a/src/lib/direct.c
+++ b/src/lib/direct.c
@@ -877,46 +877,10 @@ char* ncdirect_readline(ncdirect* n, const char* prompt){
 
 static inline int
 ncdirect_style_emit(ncdirect* n, unsigned stylebits, FILE* out){
-  int r = -1;
-  const char* esc;
-  if(stylebits == 0 && (esc = get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_SGR0))){
-    r = term_emit(esc, out, false);
-  }else if( (esc = get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_SGR)) ){
-    r = term_emit(tiparm(esc,
-                         0, // standout
-                         stylebits & NCSTYLE_UNDERLINE,
-                         0, // reverse
-                         0, // blink
-                         0, // dim
-                         stylebits & NCSTYLE_BOLD,
-                         0, // invisible
-                         0, // protect //
-                         0), out, false);
-  }else{
-    // no sgr, interesting. return failure if our stylebits were provided?
-    // back off to individual enablers? FIXME
-    return 0;
-  }
-  // sgr will blow away non-sgr properties if they were set beforehand
-  n->stylemask &= ~(NCSTYLE_ITALIC | NCSTYLE_STRUCK | NCSTYLE_UNDERCURL);
-  if(term_setstyle(n->ttyfp, n->stylemask, stylebits, NCSTYLE_ITALIC,
-                    get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_SITM),
-                    get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_RITM))){
-    return -1;
-  }
-  if(term_setstyle(n->ttyfp, n->stylemask, stylebits, NCSTYLE_STRUCK,
-                    get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_SMXX),
-                    get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_RMXX))){
-    return -1;
-  }
-  if(term_setstyle(n->ttyfp, n->stylemask, stylebits, NCSTYLE_UNDERCURL,
-                    get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_SMULX),
-                    get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_SMULNOX))){
-    return -1;
-  }
-  n->stylemask = stylebits;
-  // sgr resets colors, so set them back up if not defaults
-  if(r == 0){
+  unsigned normalized = 0;
+  int r = coerce_styles(out, &n->tcache, &n->stylemask, stylebits, &normalized);
+  // sgr0 resets colors, so set them back up if not defaults and it was used
+  if(normalized){
     // emitting an sgr resets colors. if we want to be default, that's no
     // problem, and our channels remain correct. otherwise, clear our
     // channel, and set them back up.
diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index f472f122f..af2152fd9 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -259,13 +259,13 @@ typedef struct rasterstate {
   // modified by: output, cursor moves, clearing the screen (during refresh).
   int y, x;
 
-  uint32_t curattr;// current attributes set (does not include colors)
-  unsigned lastr;  // foreground rgb, overloaded for palindexed fg
+  unsigned lastr;   // foreground rgb, overloaded for palindexed fg
   unsigned lastg;
   unsigned lastb;
-  unsigned lastbr; // background rgb, overloaded for palindexed bg
+  unsigned lastbr;  // background rgb, overloaded for palindexed bg
   unsigned lastbg;
   unsigned lastbb;
+  uint16_t curattr; // current attributes set (does not include colors)
   // we elide a color escape iff the color has not changed between two cells
   bool fgelidable;
   bool bgelidable;
@@ -1237,8 +1237,61 @@ term_fg_palindex(const notcurses* nc, FILE* out, unsigned pal){
   return 0;
 }
 
-int term_setstyle(FILE* out, unsigned cur, unsigned targ, unsigned stylebit,
-                  const char* ton, const char* toff);
+// check the current and target style bitmasks against the specified 'stylebit'.
+// if they are different, and we have the necessary capability, write the
+// applicable terminfo entry to 'out'. returns -1 only on a true error.
+static int
+term_setstyle(FILE* out, unsigned cur, unsigned targ, unsigned stylebit,
+              const char* ton, const char* toff){
+  int ret = 0;
+  unsigned curon = cur & stylebit;
+  unsigned targon = targ & stylebit;
+  if(curon != targon){
+    if(targon){
+      if(ton){
+        ret = term_emit(ton, out, false);
+      }
+    }else{
+      if(toff){ // how did this happen? we can turn it on, but not off?
+        ret = term_emit(toff, out, false);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  if(ret < 0){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+// emit escapes such that the current style is equal to newstyle. if this
+// required an sgr0 (which resets colors), normalized will be non-zero upon
+// a successful return.
+static inline int
+coerce_styles(FILE* out, const tinfo* ti, uint16_t* curstyle,
+              uint16_t newstyle, unsigned* normalized){
+  *normalized = 0; // we never currently use sgr0
+  int ret = 0;
+  ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_BOLD,
+                       get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_BOLD), get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_NOBOLD));
+  ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_ITALIC,
+                       get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SITM), get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_RITM));
+  ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_STRUCK,
+                       get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SMXX), get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_RMXX));
+  // underline and undercurl are exclusive. if we set one, don't go unsetting
+  // the other.
+  if(newstyle & NCSTYLE_UNDERLINE){ // turn on underline, or do nothing
+    ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_UNDERLINE,
+                         get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SMUL), get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_RMUL));
+  }else if(newstyle & NCSTYLE_UNDERCURL){ // turn on undercurl, or do nothing
+    ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_UNDERCURL,
+                         get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SMULX), get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SMULNOX));
+  }else{ // turn off any underlining
+    ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_UNDERCURL | NCSTYLE_UNDERLINE,
+                         NULL, get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_RMUL));
+  }
+  *curstyle = newstyle;
+  return ret;
+}
 
 // how many edges need touch a corner for it to be printed?
 static inline unsigned
diff --git a/src/lib/render.c b/src/lib/render.c
index 65a37ac1c..eeed3de84 100644
--- a/src/lib/render.c
+++ b/src/lib/render.c
@@ -545,61 +545,6 @@ term_putc(FILE* out, const egcpool* e, const nccell* c){
   return 0;
 }
 
-// check the current and target style bitmasks against the specified 'stylebit'.
-// if they are different, and we have the necessary capability, write the
-// applicable terminfo entry to 'out'. returns -1 only on a true error.
-int term_setstyle(FILE* out, unsigned cur, unsigned targ, unsigned stylebit,
-                  const char* ton, const char* toff){
-  int ret = 0;
-  unsigned curon = cur & stylebit;
-  unsigned targon = targ & stylebit;
-  if(curon != targon){
-    if(targon){
-      if(ton){
-        ret = term_emit(ton, out, false);
-      }
-    }else{
-      if(toff){ // how did this happen? we can turn it on, but not off?
-        ret = term_emit(toff, out, false);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  if(ret < 0){
-    return -1;
-  }
-  return 0;
-}
-
-// emit escapes such that the current style is equal to newstyle. if this
-// required an sgr0 (which resets colors), normalized will be non-zero upon
-// a successful return.
-static inline int
-coerce_styles(FILE* out, const tinfo* ti, uint32_t* curstyle,
-              uint32_t newstyle, unsigned* normalized){
-  *normalized = 0; // we never currently use sgr0
-  int ret = 0;
-  ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_BOLD,
-                       get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_BOLD), get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_NOBOLD));
-  ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_ITALIC,
-                       get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SITM), get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_RITM));
-  ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_STRUCK,
-                       get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SMXX), get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_RMXX));
-  // underline and undercurl are exclusive. if we set one, don't go unsetting
-  // the other.
-  if(newstyle & NCSTYLE_UNDERLINE){ // turn on underline, or do nothing
-    ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_UNDERLINE,
-                         get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SMUL), get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_RMUL));
-  }else if(newstyle & NCSTYLE_UNDERCURL){ // turn on undercurl, or do nothing
-    ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_UNDERCURL,
-                         get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SMULX), get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SMULNOX));
-  }else{ // turn off any underlining
-    ret |= term_setstyle(out, *curstyle, newstyle, NCSTYLE_UNDERCURL | NCSTYLE_UNDERLINE,
-                         NULL, get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_RMUL));
-  }
-  *curstyle = newstyle;
-  return ret;
-}
-
 // write any escape sequences necessary to set the desired style
 static inline int
 term_setstyles(FILE* out, notcurses* nc, const nccell* c){
diff --git a/src/lib/termdesc.c b/src/lib/termdesc.c
index e18f235c0..9d6a9bfdb 100644
--- a/src/lib/termdesc.c
+++ b/src/lib/termdesc.c
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ int interrogate_terminfo(tinfo* ti, int fd, const char* termname, unsigned utf8,
     { NCSTYLE_STRUCK, "smxx", 0 },
     { 0, NULL, 0 }
   };
-  if(get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_BOLD) == NULL){
+  if(get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_BOLD)){
     if(grow_esc_table(ti, "\e[22m", ESCAPE_NOBOLD, &tablelen, &tableused)){
       goto err;
     }