diff --git a/src/ncreel/main.cpp b/src/ncreel/main.cpp
index 1e64572f3..00b39d667 100644
--- a/src/ncreel/main.cpp
+++ b/src/ncreel/main.cpp
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ int runreels(struct notcurses* nc, struct ncplane* n, ncreel_options* nopts){
           auto tctx = static_cast<TabletCtx*>(nctablet_userptr(t));
           tctx->addLine();
         }
+        if(ncreel_redraw(nr)){
+          return -1;
+        }
         break;
       }case '-':{
         auto t = ncreel_focused(nr);
@@ -149,6 +152,9 @@ int runreels(struct notcurses* nc, struct ncplane* n, ncreel_options* nopts){
           auto tctx = static_cast<TabletCtx*>(nctablet_userptr(t));
           tctx->subLine();
         }
+        if(ncreel_redraw(nr)){
+          return -1;
+        }
         break;
       }case '*':
         notcurses_debug(nc, stderr);
@@ -170,9 +176,6 @@ int runreels(struct notcurses* nc, struct ncplane* n, ncreel_options* nopts){
       default:
         break;
     }
-    if(ncreel_redraw(nr)){
-      break;
-    }
     if(notcurses_render(nc)){
       break;
     }