diff --git a/src/state.rs b/src/state.rs
index 67def41..d54939f 100644
--- a/src/state.rs
+++ b/src/state.rs
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ pub fn handle<S: Screen>(term: &PseudoTerminal<S>, area: Rect, buf: &mut Buffer)
             }
 
             if let Some(screen_cell) = screen.cell(row, col) {
-                if screen_cell.has_contents() {
-                    let cell = buf.get_mut(buf_col, buf_row);
-                    screen_cell.apply(cell);
-                }
+                let cell = buf.get_mut(buf_col, buf_row);
+                screen_cell.apply(cell);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/vt100_imp.rs b/src/vt100_imp.rs
index c63c3c2..a8aeb45 100644
--- a/src/vt100_imp.rs
+++ b/src/vt100_imp.rs
@@ -37,8 +37,11 @@ impl Cell for vt100::Cell {
 fn fill_buf_cell(screen_cell: &vt100::Cell, buf_cell: &mut ratatui::buffer::Cell) {
     let fg = screen_cell.fgcolor();
     let bg = screen_cell.bgcolor();
-
-    buf_cell.set_symbol(&screen_cell.contents());
+    if screen_cell.has_contents() {
+        buf_cell.set_symbol(&screen_cell.contents());
+    } else {
+        buf_cell.set_symbol(" ");
+    }
     let fg: Color = fg.into();
     let bg: Color = bg.into();
     let mut style = Style::reset();