diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index 7ed62307..c6d00a34 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -372,8 +372,7 @@ int do_lockfile(const char *filename)
 	free(promptstr);
 
 	if (response < 1) {
-	    blank_statusbar();
-	    wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
+	    wipe_statusbar();
 	    goto free_the_name;
 	}
     }
@@ -2218,8 +2217,7 @@ int do_writeout(bool exiting, bool withprompt)
 
 		response = do_yesno_prompt(FALSE, _("File was modified "
 				"since you opened it; continue saving? "));
-		blank_statusbar();
-		wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
+		wipe_statusbar();
 
 		/* When in tool mode and not called by 'savefile',
 		 * overwrite the file right here when requested. */
diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index 451d03ee..d23b7bad 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -710,8 +710,7 @@ void window_init(void)
     }
 
     /* In case the terminal shrunk, make sure the status line is clear. */
-    blank_statusbar();
-    wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
+    wipe_statusbar();
 
     /* Turn the keypad on for the windows, if necessary. */
     if (!ISSET(REBIND_KEYPAD)) {
diff --git a/src/prompt.c b/src/prompt.c
index 2aa8a437..4223bf73 100644
--- a/src/prompt.c
+++ b/src/prompt.c
@@ -651,8 +651,7 @@ int do_prompt(bool allow_tabs, bool allow_files,
     else if (func == do_enter)
 	retval = (*answer == '\0') ? -2 : 0;
 
-    blank_statusbar();
-    wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
+    wipe_statusbar();
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_TABCOMP
     /* If we've done tab completion, there might still be a list of
@@ -720,8 +719,8 @@ int do_yesno_prompt(bool all, const char *msg)
 	blank_statusbar();
 	mvwaddnstr(bottomwin, 0, 0, message, actual_x(message, COLS - 1));
 	wattroff(bottomwin, interface_color_pair[TITLE_BAR]);
-
 	wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
+
 	currmenu = MYESNO;
 
 	/* When not replacing, show the cursor while waiting for a key. */
diff --git a/src/proto.h b/src/proto.h
index e5414c06..f585f0ff 100644
--- a/src/proto.h
+++ b/src/proto.h
@@ -642,6 +642,7 @@ const sc *get_shortcut(int *kbinput);
 void blank_row(WINDOW *win, int y, int x, int n);
 void blank_edit(void);
 void blank_statusbar(void);
+void wipe_statusbar(void);
 void blank_bottombars(void);
 void check_statusblank(void);
 char *display_string(const char *buf, size_t column, size_t span, bool isdata);
diff --git a/src/search.c b/src/search.c
index 43e816d8..a6ea882b 100644
--- a/src/search.c
+++ b/src/search.c
@@ -347,8 +347,7 @@ int findnextstr(const char *needle, bool whole_word_only, int modus,
 
     /* Wipe the "Searching..." message and unset the suppression flag. */
     if (feedback > 0) {
-	blank_statusbar();
-	wrefresh(bottomwin);
+	wipe_statusbar();
 	suppress_cursorpos = FALSE;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/text.c b/src/text.c
index 065f1344..7852f0e2 100644
--- a/src/text.c
+++ b/src/text.c
@@ -2502,8 +2502,7 @@ void do_justify(bool full_justify)
     /* Mark the buffer for unjustified text as empty. */
     jusbuffer = NULL;
 
-    blank_statusbar();
-    wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
+    wipe_statusbar();
 
     /* Show "Uncut" again in the help lines, and force their redrawing. */
     uncutfunc->desc = uncut_tag;
@@ -3322,8 +3321,7 @@ void do_linter(void)
 	}
     }
 
-    blank_statusbar();
-    wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
+    wipe_statusbar();
 
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
   free_lints_and_return:
@@ -3546,10 +3544,8 @@ void do_verbatim_input(void)
     /* Unsuppress cursor-position display or blank the statusbar. */
     if (ISSET(CONSTANT_SHOW))
 	suppress_cursorpos = FALSE;
-    else {
-	blank_statusbar();
-	wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
-    }
+    else
+	wipe_statusbar();
 
     /* Display all the verbatim characters at once, not filtering out
      * control characters. */
@@ -3622,8 +3618,7 @@ void complete_a_word(void)
 	pletion_x = 0;
 
 	/* Wipe the "No further matches" message. */
-	blank_statusbar();
-	wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
+	wipe_statusbar();
     } else {
 	/* Remove the attempted completion from the buffer. */
 	do_undo();
diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index a805a8cc..61c81196 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -1810,6 +1810,13 @@ void blank_statusbar(void)
     blank_row(bottomwin, 0, 0, COLS);
 }
 
+/* Wipe the status bar clean and include this in the next screen update. */
+void wipe_statusbar(void)
+{
+    blank_row(bottomwin, 0, 0, COLS);
+    wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
+}
+
 /* If the NO_HELP flag isn't set, blank the last two lines of the bottom
  * portion of the window. */
 void blank_bottombars(void)
@@ -1834,10 +1841,8 @@ void check_statusblank(void)
     if (currmenu == MMAIN && ISSET(CONSTANT_SHOW))
 	return;
 
-    if (statusblank == 0) {
-	blank_statusbar();
-	wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
-    }
+    if (statusblank == 0)
+	wipe_statusbar();
 
     /* If the subwindows overlap, make sure to show the edit window now. */
     if (LINES == 1)