diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/console/statusbar.py b/mitmproxy/tools/console/statusbar.py
index d4563515a..a8806b305 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/tools/console/statusbar.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/console/statusbar.py
@@ -61,34 +61,28 @@ class ActionBar(urwid.WidgetWrap):
         return p.strip() + ": "
 
     def prep_message(self, msg):
-        cols, _ = self.master.ui.get_cols_rows()
-        eventlog_prompt = "(more in eventlog)"
-        if isinstance(msg, (tuple, list)):
-            log_level, msg_text = msg
+        if isinstance(msg, tuple):
+            disp_attr, msg_text = msg
         elif isinstance(msg, str):
-            log_level, msg_text = None, msg
+            disp_attr, msg_text = None, msg
         else:
             return msg
+        cols, _ = self.master.ui.get_cols_rows()
+        prompt = "(more in eventlog)"
 
         msg_lines = msg_text.split("\n")
         first_line = msg_lines[0]
 
-        def prep_line(line, eventlog_prompt, cols):
-            if cols < len(eventlog_prompt) + 3:
-                first_line = "..."
-            else:
-                first_line = line[:cols - len(eventlog_prompt) - 3] + "..."
-            return first_line
+        oneline_fits = len(first_line) > cols and len(msg_lines) == 1
+        manylines_first_fits = (len(first_line) + len(prompt) > cols and
+                                len(msg_lines) > 1)
+        if oneline_fits or manylines_first_fits:
+            shortening_index = max(0, cols - len(prompt) - 3)
+            first_line = first_line[:shortening_index] + "..."
+        elif len(msg_lines) == 1 and len(first_line) <= cols:
+            prompt = ""
 
-        if len(msg_lines) > 1:
-            if len(first_line) + len(eventlog_prompt) > cols:
-                first_line = prep_line(first_line, eventlog_prompt, cols)
-        else:
-            if len(first_line) > cols:
-                first_line = prep_line(first_line, eventlog_prompt, cols)
-            else:
-                eventlog_prompt = ""
-        return [(log_level, first_line), ("warn", eventlog_prompt)]
+        return [(disp_attr, first_line), ("warn", prompt)]
 
     def sig_prompt(self, sender, prompt, text, callback, args=()):
         signals.focus.send(self, section="footer")
diff --git a/test/mitmproxy/tools/console/test_statusbar.py b/test/mitmproxy/tools/console/test_statusbar.py
index db8a63a7d..22bb761f3 100644
--- a/test/mitmproxy/tools/console/test_statusbar.py
+++ b/test/mitmproxy/tools/console/test_statusbar.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 from mitmproxy import options
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import statusbar, master
 
+from unittest import mock
+
 
 def test_statusbar(monkeypatch):
     o = options.Options()
@@ -31,3 +33,26 @@ def test_statusbar(monkeypatch):
 
     bar = statusbar.StatusBar(m)  # this already causes a redraw
     assert bar.ib._w
+
+
+def test_prep_message():
+    o = options.Options()
+    m = master.ConsoleMaster(o)
+    m.ui = mock.MagicMock()
+    m.ui.get_cols_rows = mock.MagicMock(return_value=(50, 50))
+    ab = statusbar.ActionBar(m)
+
+    prep_msg = ab.prep_message("Error: Fits into statusbar")
+    assert prep_msg == [(None, "Error: Fits into statusbar"), ("warn", "")]
+
+    prep_msg = ab.prep_message("Error: Doesn't fit into statusbar"*2)
+    assert prep_msg == [(None, "Error: Doesn't fit into statu..."),
+                        ("warn", "(more in eventlog)")]
+
+    prep_msg = ab.prep_message("Error: Two lines.\nFirst fits")
+    assert prep_msg == [(None, "Error: Two lines."),
+                        ("warn", "(more in eventlog)")]
+
+    prep_msg = ab.prep_message("Error: Two lines"*4 + "\nFirst doensn't fit")
+    assert prep_msg == [(None, "Error: Two linesError: Two li..."),
+                        ("warn", "(more in eventlog)")]