diff --git a/src/modules/punk/repl-0.1.tm b/src/modules/punk/repl-0.1.tm
index a3f2de10..ac08c9e5 100644
--- a/src/modules/punk/repl-0.1.tm
+++ b/src/modules/punk/repl-0.1.tm
@@ -1378,11 +1378,11 @@ proc repl::repl_handler {inputchan prompt_config} {
                         #got_dimensions - todo - try spinner?
                         #puts -nonewline stdout [punk::ansi::move $rows 4]$msg
                         #use cursorsave_ version which avoids get_cursor_pos_list call
+                        set msglen [ansistring length $msg]
                         punk::console::cursorsave_move_emitblock_return $rows [expr {$cols - $msglen -1}] $msg 
                     } else {
                         #no mechanism to get console dimensions 
                         #we are reduced to continuously spewing lines.
-                        set msglen [ansistring length $msg]
                         puts stderr $msg
                     }