diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index 894b2782..3624a8d9 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -1856,7 +1856,7 @@ char *display_string(const char *buf, size_t start_col, size_t len, bool
 		);
 
 	if (is_cntrl_char(wide_buf)) {
-	    if (column > start_col) {
+	    if (dollars && column > start_col) {
 		char *ctrl_wide_buf = charalloc(MB_CUR_MAX);
 		int ctrl_wide_buf_len, i;