diff --git a/kitty/line.c b/kitty/line.c
index dcd647e4c..ec6b3e08b 100644
--- a/kitty/line.c
+++ b/kitty/line.c
@@ -269,9 +269,12 @@ line_as_ansi(Line *self, Py_UCS4 *buf, index_type buflen, bool *truncated, GPUCe
 
     GPUCell blank_cell = { 0 };
     GPUCell *cell, *temp_cell = &blank_cell;
-    if (prev_cell == NULL || *prev_cell == NULL) {
+    if (prev_cell == NULL) {
         prev_cell = &temp_cell;
     }
+    if (*prev_cell == NULL) {
+        *prev_cell = &blank_cell;
+    }
 
     for (index_type pos=0; pos < limit; pos++) {
         char_type ch = self->cpu_cells[pos].ch;