diff --git a/terminal.c b/terminal.c
index 65912cfa..87bbfb85 100644
--- a/terminal.c
+++ b/terminal.c
@@ -163,15 +163,12 @@ erase_cell_range(struct terminal *term, struct row *row, int start, int end)
     assert(start < term->cols);
     assert(end < term->cols);
 
+    memset(&row->cells[start], 0, (end - start + 1) * sizeof(row->cells[0]));
     if (unlikely(term->vt.attrs.have_bg)) {
         for (int col = start; col <= end; col++) {
-            row->cells[col].wc = 0;
-            row->cells[col].attrs.clean = 0;
             row->cells[col].attrs.have_bg = 1;
             row->cells[col].attrs.bg = term->vt.attrs.bg;
         }
-    } else {
-        memset(&row->cells[start], 0, (end - start + 1) * sizeof(row->cells[0]));
     }
     row->dirty = true;
 }