diff --git a/lib/widget.js b/lib/widget.js
index faa0927..4389cea 100644
--- a/lib/widget.js
+++ b/lib/widget.js
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ function Screen(options) {
 
   Node.call(this, options);
 
-  this.autoPadding = options.autoPadding;
+  this.autoPadding = options.autoPadding !== false;
   this.tabc = Array((options.tabSize || 4) + 1).join(' ');
 
   this.ignoreLocked = options.ignoreLocked || [];