diff --git a/lib/widget.js b/lib/widget.js
index d9bf83a..020d29e 100644
--- a/lib/widget.js
+++ b/lib/widget.js
@@ -540,19 +540,6 @@ Screen.prototype.fillRegion = function(attr, ch, xi, xl, yi, yl) {
   }
 };
 
-Screen.prototype.setCell = function(yi, xi, attr, ch) {
-  var lines = this.lines;
-  if (!lines[yi]) return;
-  var cell = lines[yi][xi];
-  if (!cell) return;
-  if (attr !== cell[0] || ch !== cell[1]) {
-    lines[yi][xi][0] = attr;
-    lines[yi][xi][1] = ch;
-    lines[yi].dirty = true;
-  }
-  return true;
-};
-
 /**
  * Element
  */
@@ -1086,6 +1073,9 @@ outer:
   for (yi = yi_; yi < yl; yi++) {
     if (!lines[yi]) break;
     for (xi = xi_; xi < xl; xi++) {
+      cell = lines[yi][xi];
+      if (!cell) break;
+
       if (this.shrink && !content[ci] && yi === yi_) {
         xl = xi + 1 - 1;
         break outer;
@@ -1108,41 +1098,85 @@ outer:
       if (ch === '\n' || ch === '\r') {
         ch = ' ';
         for (; xi < xl; xi++) {
-          if (!this.screen.setCell(yi, xi, attr, ch)) break;
+          cell = lines[yi][xi];
+          if (!cell) break;
+          if (attr !== cell[0] || ch !== cell[1]) {
+            lines[yi][xi][0] = attr;
+            lines[yi][xi][1] = ch;
+            lines[yi].dirty = true;
+          }
         }
         continue;
       }
 
-      if (!this.screen.setCell(yi, xi, attr, ch)) break;
+      if (attr !== cell[0] || ch !== cell[1]) {
+        lines[yi][xi][0] = attr;
+        lines[yi][xi][1] = ch;
+        lines[yi].dirty = true;
+      }
     }
   }
 
   if (this.border) {
     yi_--, yl++, xi_--, xl++;
-    if (this.border.type === 'bg') ch = this.border.ch;
     yi = yi_;
     for (xi = xi_; xi < xl; xi++) {
+      if (!lines[yi]) break;
       if (this.border.type === 'ascii') {
         if (xi === xi_) ch = '┌';
         else if (xi === xl - 1) ch = '┐';
         else ch = '─';
+      } else if (this.border.type === 'bg') {
+        ch = this.border.ch;
+      }
+      cell = lines[yi][xi];
+      if (!cell) break;
+      if (battr !== cell[0] || ch !== cell[1]) {
+        lines[yi][xi][0] = battr;
+        lines[yi][xi][1] = ch;
+        lines[yi].dirty = true;
       }
-      if (!this.screen.setCell(yi, xi, battr, ch)) break;
     }
     yi = yi_ + 1;
-    if (this.border.type === 'ascii') ch = '│';
     for (; yi < yl; yi++) {
-      if (!this.screen.setCell(yi, xi_, battr, ch)) break;
-      if (!this.screen.setCell(yi, xl - 1, battr, ch)) break;
+      if (!lines[yi]) break;
+      if (this.border.type === 'ascii') {
+        ch = '│';
+      } else if (this.border.type === 'bg') {
+        ch = this.border.ch;
+      }
+      cell = lines[yi][xi_];
+      if (!cell) break;
+      if (battr !== cell[0] || ch !== cell[1]) {
+        lines[yi][xi_][0] = battr;
+        lines[yi][xi_][1] = ch;
+        lines[yi].dirty = true;
+      }
+      cell = lines[yi][xl - 1];
+      if (!cell) break;
+      if (battr !== cell[0] || ch !== cell[1]) {
+        lines[yi][xl - 1][0] = battr;
+        lines[yi][xl - 1][1] = ch;
+        lines[yi].dirty = true;
+      }
     }
     yi = yl - 1;
     for (xi = xi_; xi < xl; xi++) {
+      if (!lines[yi]) break;
       if (this.border.type === 'ascii') {
         if (xi === xi_) ch = '└';
         else if (xi === xl - 1) ch = '┘';
         else ch = '─';
+      } else if (this.border.type === 'bg') {
+        ch = this.border.ch;
+      }
+      cell = lines[yi][xi];
+      if (!cell) break;
+      if (battr !== cell[0] || ch !== cell[1]) {
+        lines[yi][xi][0] = battr;
+        lines[yi][xi][1] = ch;
+        lines[yi].dirty = true;
       }
-      if (!this.screen.setCell(yi, xi, battr, ch)) break;
     }
   }