diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index 1a267062e4ef73f0f6f81a6e5b6546b1a5ff1a8a..1b8298ec56cc3e5a30836b87e80fda19825ecf17 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -2683,8 +2683,9 @@ int update_line(filestruct *fileptr, size_t index)
 #endif
 	row = fileptr->lineno - openfile->edittop->lineno;
 
+    /* If the line is offscreen, don't even try to display it. */
     if (row < 0 || row >= editwinrows)
-	return 1;
+	return 0;
 
     /* First, blank out the row. */
     blank_row(edit, row, 0, COLS);