diff --git a/terminal.c b/terminal.c
index b0f0679c..290a1425 100644
--- a/terminal.c
+++ b/terminal.c
@@ -521,7 +521,8 @@ term_set_fonts(struct terminal *term, struct font *fonts[static 4])
 
     term->cell_width = term->fonts[0]->space_x_advance > 0
         ? term->fonts[0]->space_x_advance : term->fonts[0]->max_x_advance;
-    term->cell_height = term->fonts[0]->height;
+    term->cell_height = max(term->fonts[0]->height,
+                            term->fonts[0]->ascent + term->fonts[0]->descent);
     LOG_INFO("cell width=%d, height=%d", term->cell_width, term->cell_height);
 
     render_resize_force(term, term->width, term->height);