diff --git a/base/breakerbox.zsh b/base/breakerbox.zsh
index 59ee958..a86c509 100644
--- a/base/breakerbox.zsh
+++ b/base/breakerbox.zsh
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@
 # ESPECIALLY DON'T EDIT this file if you're using zeesh near nuclear reactor
 # control software for whatever unimaginable reason.
 
-_zeeshdev_ignore_updates=0
\ No newline at end of file
+_zeeshdev_ignore_updates=0
+_zeeshdev_ticker_newlines=0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/base/zeesh.zsh b/base/zeesh.zsh
index 308cbb8..36e02f4 100644
--- a/base/zeesh.zsh
+++ b/base/zeesh.zsh
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
-function ticker_message () {
-    # TODO: get cols and scale
-    printf "\r                                                    \r"
+cols=$(stty -a | grep -Po '(?<=columns )\d+' | tr -d "\n")
 
-    printf "$@"
+function ticker_message () {
+    if [[ $_zeeshdev_ticker_newlines == 0 ]]; then
+        printf "\r${(l:$cols:: :)A}\r"
+        printf "$@"
+    else
+        printf "$@\n"
+    fi
 }
 
 function ticker_finish () {
-    # TODO: get cols and scale
-    printf "\r                                                    \r"
+    [[ $_zeeshdev_ticker_newlines == 0 ]] && printf "\r${(l:$cols:: :)A}\r"
 }
diff --git a/zeesh.zsh b/zeesh.zsh
index 30ad0c3..bb0f4e2 100644
--- a/zeesh.zsh
+++ b/zeesh.zsh
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ source ~/.local/share/zeesh/base/zeesh.zsh
 
 ticker_message "zeesh: bootstrap"
 
-cols=$(stty -a | grep -Po '(?<=columns )\d+' | tr -d "\n")
-
 if [[ $cols -lt 80 ]]; then
     if [[ $(uname -o) == "Android" ]]; then
         hostemoji="📞"