diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index da195ed1..66c46f35 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -2278,6 +2278,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 #endif
 
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
+	if (ISSET(MINIBAR))
+		SET(CONSTANT_SHOW);
+
 	/* If matchbrackets wasn't specified, set its default value. */
 	if (matchbrackets == NULL)
 		matchbrackets = copy_of("(<[{)>]}");
diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index 66c96344..7fbeb118 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ void read_keys_from(WINDOW *win)
 		curs_set(1);
 
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
-	if (currmenu == MMAIN && ISSET(MINIBAR) && lastmessage > HUSH &&
+	if (currmenu == MMAIN && ISSET(MINIBAR) && ISSET(CONSTANT_SHOW) && lastmessage > HUSH &&
 						lastmessage != INFO && lastmessage < ALERT) {
 		timed = TRUE;
 		halfdelay(8);
@@ -2080,6 +2080,12 @@ void minibar(void)
 	wchar_t widecode;
 #endif
 
+	if (!ISSET(CONSTANT_SHOW)) {
+		blank_statusbar();
+		wrefresh(bottomwin);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* Draw a colored bar over the full width of the screen. */
 	wattron(bottomwin, interface_color_pair[TITLE_BAR]);
 	mvwprintw(bottomwin, 0, 0, "%*s", COLS, " ");