--- a/less/screen.c	
+++ a/less/screen.c	
@@ -1551,7 +1551,10 @@ init()
 		for (i = 1; i < sc_height; i++)
 			putchr('\n');
 	} else
-		line_left();
+		if (oldbot)
+			lower_left();
+		else
+			line_left();
 #else
 #if MSDOS_COMPILER==WIN32C
 	if (!no_init)