diff --git a/kitty/fonts/box_drawing.py b/kitty/fonts/box_drawing.py
index 2f5e77bb5..89f9490e8 100644
--- a/kitty/fonts/box_drawing.py
+++ b/kitty/fonts/box_drawing.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def vline(*a, level=1):
     half_vline(*a, level=level, which='bottom')
 
 
-def hholes(*a, level=2, num=1):
+def hholes(*a, level=1, num=1):
     hline(*a, level=level)
     add_hholes(*a, level=level, num=num)