diff --git a/kitty/core_text.m b/kitty/core_text.m
index 4cbbd807c..8e8996690 100644
--- a/kitty/core_text.m
+++ b/kitty/core_text.m
@@ -952,6 +952,7 @@ cocoa_render_line_of_text(const char *text, const color_type fg, const color_typ
 
     CGContextSetShouldAntialias(ctx, true);
     CGContextSetShouldSmoothFonts(ctx, true);  // sub-pixel antialias
+    CGContextClearRect(ctx, CGRectMake(0.0, 0.0, width, height));
     CGContextSetRGBFillColor(ctx, ((bg >> 16) & 0xff) / 255.f, ((bg >> 8) & 0xff) / 255.f, (bg & 0xff) / 255.f, ((bg >> 24) & 0xff) / 255.f);
     CGContextFillRect(ctx, CGRectMake(0.0, 0.0, width, height));
     CGContextSetTextDrawingMode(ctx, kCGTextFill);