diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 861f4e7f0..c8a448aa6 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -1206,8 +1206,11 @@ int notcurses_stop(notcurses* nc){
     // if we were not using the alternate screen, our cursor's wherever we last
     // wrote. move it to the bottom left of the screen.
     if(!nc->tcache.smcup){
+      // FIXME combine into a single cup (heh)?
       tty_emit(tiparm(nc->tcache.hpa, 0), nc->ttyfd);
-      tty_emit(tiparm(nc->tcache.vpa, nc->lfdimy + nc->margin_t - 1), nc->ttyfd);
+      if(nc->lfdimy){
+        tty_emit(tiparm(nc->tcache.vpa, nc->lfdimy + nc->margin_t - 1), nc->ttyfd);
+      }
     }
     if(nc->ttyfd >= 0){
       ret |= close(nc->ttyfd);