diff --git a/command.c b/command.c
index e8dea950..117240f4 100644
--- a/command.c
+++ b/command.c
@@ -25,10 +25,12 @@ int handle_start_command(char *cmd)
         user = strndup(cmd+9, strlen(cmd)-9);
 
         status_bar_get_password();
+        status_bar_refresh();
         char passwd[20];
         inp_get_password(passwd);
 
         status_bar_print_message(user);
+        status_bar_refresh();
         jabber_connect(user, passwd);
         result = START_MAIN;
     } else {
diff --git a/profanity.c b/profanity.c
index 8548b2c8..61b0c975 100644
--- a/profanity.c
+++ b/profanity.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ void profanity_start(void)
     char cmd[50];
 
     while (cmd_result == AWAIT_COMMAND) {
+        status_bar_refresh();
         inp_get_command_str(cmd);
         cmd_result = handle_start_command(cmd);
     }
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ static void _profanity_event_loop(int *ch, char *cmd, int *size)
 {
     usleep(1);
 
-    status_bar_update_time();
+    status_bar_refresh();
 
     // handle incoming messages
     jabber_process_events();
diff --git a/status_bar.c b/status_bar.c
index dc855416..cbc0d810 100644
--- a/status_bar.c
+++ b/status_bar.c
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 static WINDOW *status_bar;
 
+static void _status_bar_update_time(void);
+
 void create_status_bar(void)
 {
     int rows, cols;
@@ -14,34 +16,42 @@ void create_status_bar(void)
     wrefresh(status_bar);
 }
 
+void status_bar_refresh(void)
+{
+    _status_bar_update_time();
+    touchwin(status_bar);
+    wrefresh(status_bar);
+    inp_put_back();
+}
+
 void status_bar_inactive(int win)
 {
     mvwaddch(status_bar, 0, 30 + win, ' ');
     if (win == 9)
         mvwaddch(status_bar, 0, 30 + win + 1, ' ');
-    wrefresh(status_bar);
 }
 
 void status_bar_active(int win)
 {
     mvwprintw(status_bar, 0, 30 + win, "%d", win+1);
-    touchwin(status_bar);
-    wrefresh(status_bar);
 }
 
 void status_bar_get_password(void)
 {
-    mvwprintw(status_bar, 0, 1, "Enter password:");
-    wrefresh(status_bar);
+    mvwprintw(status_bar, 0, 9, "Enter password:");
 }
 
 void status_bar_print_message(char *msg)
 {
     mvwprintw(status_bar, 0, 9, msg);
-    wrefresh(status_bar);
 }
 
-void status_bar_update_time(void)
+void status_bar_clear(void)
+{
+    wclear(status_bar);
+}
+
+static void _status_bar_update_time(void)
 {
     char bar_time[8];
     char tstmp[80];
@@ -49,12 +59,5 @@ void status_bar_update_time(void)
     sprintf(bar_time, "[%s]", tstmp);
 
     mvwprintw(status_bar, 0, 1, bar_time);
-    wrefresh(status_bar);
-    inp_put_back();
 }
 
-void status_bar_clear(void)
-{
-    wclear(status_bar);
-    wrefresh(status_bar);
-}
diff --git a/windows.h b/windows.h
index 9e997e0b..b73e04d0 100644
--- a/windows.h
+++ b/windows.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ void create_status_bar(void);
 void create_input_window(void);
 
 // status bar actions
+void status_bar_refresh(void);
 void status_bar_clear(void);
 void status_bar_get_password(void);
 void status_bar_print_message(char *msg);