diff --git a/kitty/layout/vertical.py b/kitty/layout/vertical.py
index 1c24f2d67..c50d3b398 100644
--- a/kitty/layout/vertical.py
+++ b/kitty/layout/vertical.py
@@ -2,14 +2,16 @@
 # vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 # License: GPLv3 Copyright: 2020, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 
-from typing import Dict, Generator
+from typing import Dict, Generator, List, Tuple
 
+from kitty.borders import BorderColor
+from kitty.constants import Edges
 from kitty.typing import WindowType
-from kitty.window_list import WindowList
+from kitty.window_list import WindowGroup, WindowList
 
 from .base import (
-    Borders, Layout, LayoutDimension, NeighborsMap, all_borders, no_borders,
-    variable_bias
+    BorderLine, Borders, Layout, LayoutData, LayoutDimension, NeighborsMap,
+    lgd, variable_bias
 )
 
 
@@ -18,6 +20,7 @@ class Vertical(Layout):
     name = 'vertical'
     main_is_horizontal = False
     only_between_border = Borders(False, False, False, True)
+    no_minimal_window_borders = True
     main_axis_layout = Layout.ylayout
     perp_axis_layout = Layout.xlayout
 
@@ -26,6 +29,9 @@ class Vertical(Layout):
         bias = variable_bias(num_windows, biased_map) if num_windows else None
         return self.main_axis_layout(all_windows.iter_all_layoutable_groups(), bias=bias)
 
+    def fixed_layout(self, wg: WindowGroup) -> LayoutDimension:
+        return self.perp_axis_layout(iter((wg,)), border_mult=0 if lgd.draw_minimal_borders else 1)
+
     def remove_all_biases(self) -> bool:
         self.biased_map: Dict[int, float] = {}
         return True
@@ -45,33 +51,60 @@ class Vertical(Layout):
         self.biased_map = candidate
         return True
 
+    def generate_layout_data(self, all_windows: WindowList) -> Generator[Tuple[WindowGroup, LayoutData, LayoutData], None, None]:
+        ylayout = self.variable_layout(all_windows, self.biased_map)
+        for wg, yl in zip(all_windows.iter_all_layoutable_groups(), ylayout):
+            xl = next(self.fixed_layout(wg))
+            if self.main_is_horizontal:
+                xl, yl = yl, xl
+            yield wg, xl, yl
+
     def do_layout(self, all_windows: WindowList) -> None:
         window_count = all_windows.num_groups
         if window_count == 1:
             self.layout_single_window_group(next(all_windows.iter_all_layoutable_groups()))
             return
-
-        ylayout = self.variable_layout(all_windows, self.biased_map)
-        for i, (wg, yl) in enumerate(zip(all_windows.iter_all_layoutable_groups(), ylayout)):
-            xl = next(self.perp_axis_layout(iter((wg,))))
-            if self.main_is_horizontal:
-                xl, yl = yl, xl
+        for wg, xl, yl in self.generate_layout_data(all_windows):
             self.set_window_group_geometry(wg, xl, yl)
 
-    def minimal_borders(self, all_windows: WindowList, needs_borders_map: Dict[int, bool]) -> Generator[Borders, None, None]:
-        last_i = all_windows.num_groups - 1
+    def window_independent_borders(self, all_windows: WindowList) -> Generator[BorderLine, None, None]:
+        window_count = all_windows.num_groups
+        if window_count == 1 or not lgd.draw_minimal_borders:
+            return
         groups = tuple(all_windows.iter_all_layoutable_groups())
-        for i, wg in enumerate(groups):
-            if needs_borders_map[wg.id]:
-                yield all_borders
-                continue
-            if i == last_i:
-                yield no_borders
-                break
-            if needs_borders_map[groups[i+1].id]:
-                yield no_borders
+        needs_borders_map = all_windows.compute_needs_borders_map(lgd.draw_active_borders)
+        bw = groups[0].effective_border()
+        if not bw:
+            return
+        borders: List[BorderLine] = []
+        active_group = all_windows.active_group
+
+        for wg, xl, yl in self.generate_layout_data(all_windows):
+            if self.main_is_horizontal:
+                e1 = Edges(
+                    xl.content_pos - xl.space_before, yl.content_pos - yl.space_before,
+                    xl.content_pos - xl.space_before + bw, yl.content_pos + yl.content_size + yl.space_after
+                )
+                e2 = Edges(
+                    xl.content_pos + xl.content_size + xl.space_after - bw, yl.content_pos - yl.space_before,
+                    xl.content_pos + xl.content_size + xl.space_after, yl.content_pos + yl.content_size + yl.space_after
+                )
             else:
-                yield self.only_between_border
+                e1 = Edges(
+                    xl.content_pos - xl.space_before, yl.content_pos - yl.space_before,
+                    xl.content_pos + xl.content_size + xl.space_after, yl.content_pos - yl.space_before + bw
+                )
+                e2 = Edges(
+                    xl.content_pos - xl.space_before, yl.content_pos + yl.content_size + yl.space_after - bw,
+                    xl.content_pos + xl.content_size + xl.space_after, yl.content_pos + yl.content_size + yl.space_after
+                )
+            color = BorderColor.inactive
+            if needs_borders_map.get(wg.id):
+                color = BorderColor.active if wg is active_group else BorderColor.bell
+            borders.append(BorderLine(e1, color))
+            borders.append(BorderLine(e2, color))
+        for x in borders[1:-1]:
+            yield x
 
     def neighbors_for_window(self, window: WindowType, all_windows: WindowList) -> NeighborsMap:
         wg = all_windows.group_for_window(window)