--- /n/sources/plan9/sys/include/frame.h	Wed Nov 28 01:16:57 2007
+++ /sys/include/frame.h	Sat Mar  5 00:00:00 2016
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 	Image		*tick;	/* typing tick */
 	Image		*tickback;	/* saved image under tick */
 	int			ticked;	/* flag: is tick onscreen? */
+	int			noredraw;	/* don't draw on the screen */
 };
 
 ulong	frcharofpt(Frame*, Point);
--- /n/sources/plan9/sys/src/libframe/frdraw.c	Wed Nov 28 01:17:04 2007
+++ /sys/src/libframe/frdraw.c	Sat Mar  5 00:00:00 2016
@@ -14,9 +14,8 @@
 
 	for(nb=0,b=f->box; nb<f->nbox; nb++, b++){
 		_frcklinewrap(f, &pt, b);
-		if(b->nrune >= 0){
+		if(!f->noredraw && b->nrune >= 0)
 			stringbg(f->b, pt, text, ZP, f->font, (char*)b->ptr, back, ZP);
-		}
 		pt.x += b->wid;
 	}
 }