diff --git a/kitty/fonts.c b/kitty/fonts.c
index 0d26718a0..ec8c91f4a 100644
--- a/kitty/fonts.c
+++ b/kitty/fonts.c
@@ -392,7 +392,8 @@ calc_cell_metrics(FontGroup *fg) {
 
     underline_position = MIN(cell_height - 1, underline_position);
     // ensure there is at least a couple of pixels available to render styled underlines
-    while (underline_position > baseline + 1 && cell_height - underline_position < 2) underline_position--;
+    // there should be at least one pixel on either side of the underline_position
+    while (underline_position > baseline + 1 && cell_height - underline_position < 1) underline_position--;
     if (line_height_adjustment > 1) {
         baseline += MIN(cell_height - 1, (unsigned)line_height_adjustment / 2);
         underline_position += MIN(cell_height - 1, (unsigned)line_height_adjustment / 2);