diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 9056ad6c..d7cc89de 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 	been working for a dozen years.
 	* src/winio.c (statusbar): Update the screen immediately whenever a
 	message has been posted on the status bar.
+	* src/winio.c (statusbar), src/nano.c (do_input): Turn the cursor off
+	when writing in the status bar, and on when waiting for	input.
 
 2016-02-05  Benno Schulenberg  <bensberg@justemail.net>
 	* doc/texinfo/nano.texi: Condense the descriptions of command-key
diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index 2cbf7051..164b40d1 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -1346,9 +1346,6 @@ RETSIGTYPE do_continue(int signal)
     /* Restore the terminal to its previous state. */
     terminal_init();
 
-    /* Turn the cursor back on for sure. */
-    curs_set(1);
-
     /* Redraw the contents of the windows that need it. */
     blank_statusbar();
     wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
@@ -1407,9 +1404,6 @@ void regenerate_screen(void)
     /* Restore the terminal to its previous state. */
     terminal_init();
 
-    /* Turn the cursor back on for sure. */
-    curs_set(1);
-
     /* Do the equivalent of what both mutt and Minimum Profit do:
      * Reinitialize all the windows based on the new screen
      * dimensions. */
@@ -1610,6 +1604,9 @@ int do_input(bool allow_funcs)
     const sc *s;
     bool have_shortcut;
 
+    /* Turn the cursor on when waiting for input. */
+    curs_set(1);
+
     /* Read in a character. */
     input = get_kbinput(edit);
 
@@ -2534,9 +2531,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     /* Set up the terminal state. */
     terminal_init();
 
-    /* Turn the cursor on for sure. */
-    curs_set(1);
-
 #ifdef DEBUG
     fprintf(stderr, "Main: set up windows\n");
 #endif
diff --git a/src/text.c b/src/text.c
index 9dacb9dd..8c6601ae 100644
--- a/src/text.c
+++ b/src/text.c
@@ -2755,9 +2755,6 @@ const char *do_alt_speller(char *tempfile_name)
     /* Restore the terminal to its previous state. */
     terminal_init();
 
-    /* Turn the cursor back on for sure. */
-    curs_set(1);
-
     if (!WIFEXITED(alt_spell_status) || WEXITSTATUS(alt_spell_status) != 0) {
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
 	/* Turn the mark back on if it was on before. */
@@ -3300,9 +3297,6 @@ void do_formatter(void)
     /* Restore the terminal to its previous state. */
     terminal_init();
 
-    /* Turn the cursor back on for sure. */
-    curs_set(1);
-
     if (!WIFEXITED(format_status) || WEXITSTATUS(format_status) != 0)
 	finalstatus = invocation_error(openfile->syntax->formatter);
     else {
diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index 016c5776..21a4a6c2 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -2117,6 +2117,9 @@ void statusbar(const char *msg, ...)
 	return;
     }
 
+    /* Turn the cursor off while fiddling in the statusbar. */
+    curs_set(0);
+
     blank_statusbar();
 
     bar = charalloc(mb_cur_max() * (COLS - 3));