diff --git a/src/help.c b/src/help.c
index c0c8d03b..2b8476a9 100644
--- a/src/help.c
+++ b/src/help.c
@@ -323,6 +323,13 @@ void wrap_help_text_into_buffer(void)
 
 	make_new_buffer();
 
+	/* Ensure there is a blank line at the top of the text, for esthetics. */
+	if (ISSET(MINIBAR) || !ISSET(EMPTY_LINE)) {
+		openfile->current->data = mallocstrcpy(openfile->current->data, " ");
+		openfile->current->next = make_new_node(openfile->current);
+		openfile->current = openfile->current->next;
+	}
+
 	/* Copy the help text into the just-created new buffer. */
 	while (*ptr != '\0') {
 		int length, shim;