diff --git a/src/hu_lib.c b/src/hu_lib.c
index 506d4f72..908f85e8 100644
--- a/src/hu_lib.c
+++ b/src/hu_lib.c
@@ -475,8 +475,8 @@ void HUlib_init_multiline(hu_multiline_t *m,
     if (m->lines[i] == NULL)
     {
       m->lines[i] = malloc(sizeof(hu_line_t));
-      HUlib_clear_line(m->lines[i]);
     }
+    HUlib_clear_line(m->lines[i]);
   }
 
   m->font = f;
diff --git a/src/hu_stuff.c b/src/hu_stuff.c
index 9d967b00..f76f7240 100644
--- a/src/hu_stuff.c
+++ b/src/hu_stuff.c
@@ -580,8 +580,6 @@ void HU_Start(void)
   HUlib_init_multiline(&w_message, message_list ? hud_msg_lines : 1,
                        &doom_font, colrngs[hudcolor_mesg],
                        &message_on, NULL);
-  // [FG] clear messages
-  HUlib_clear_all_lines(&w_message);
 
   // create the secret message widget
   HUlib_init_multiline(&w_secret, 1,