diff --git a/stm.cpp b/stm.cpp
index 758f726..c48e2cf 100644
--- a/stm.cpp
+++ b/stm.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
   client.main();
 
   client.shutdown();
-  printf( "\n[stm is exiting.]\n" );
+  printf( "\033[!p\n[stm is exiting.]\n" );
 
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/terminaloverlay.cpp b/terminaloverlay.cpp
index 16f0e20..f1a3483 100644
--- a/terminaloverlay.cpp
+++ b/terminaloverlay.cpp
@@ -219,6 +219,8 @@ void NotificationEngine::apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const
   assert( fb.ds.get_width() > 0 );
   assert( fb.ds.get_height() > 0 );
 
+
+  /* draw bar across top of screen */
   Cell notification_bar( 0 );
   notification_bar.renditions.foreground_color = 37;
   notification_bar.renditions.background_color = 44;
@@ -228,6 +230,11 @@ void NotificationEngine::apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const
     *(fb.get_mutable_cell( 0, i )) = notification_bar;
   }
 
+  /* hide cursor if necessary */
+  if ( fb.ds.get_cursor_row() == 0 ) {
+    fb.ds.cursor_visible = false;
+  }
+
   OverlayEngine::apply( fb );
 }