diff --git a/squirrelbattle/display/display.py b/squirrelbattle/display/display.py
index 0a06c65..d5e3078 100644
--- a/squirrelbattle/display/display.py
+++ b/squirrelbattle/display/display.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ class Display:
         return curses.newpad(height, width) if self.screen else FakePad()
 
     def truncate(self, msg: str, height: int, width: int) -> str:
+        height = max(0, height)
+        width = max(0, width)
         lines = msg.split("\n")
         lines = lines[:height]
         lines = [line[:width] for line in lines]
@@ -31,8 +33,8 @@ class Display:
         If the message is too large, it is truncated vertically and horizontally
         """
         height, width = pad.getmaxyx()
-        msg = self.truncate(msg, height - y, width - x)
-        if msg.replace("\n", ""):
+        msg = self.truncate(msg, height - y, width - x - 1)
+        if msg.replace("\n", "") and x >= 0 and y >= 0:
             return pad.addstr(y, x, msg, *options)
 
     def init_pair(self, number: int, foreground: int, background: int) -> None: