diff --git a/cwriter/writer.go b/cwriter/writer.go
index 19fd90e..c25cf43 100644
--- a/cwriter/writer.go
+++ b/cwriter/writer.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 type Writer struct {
 	out      io.Writer
 	buf      bytes.Buffer
-	lines    int // how much lines to clear before flushing new ones
 	fd       int
 	terminal bool
 	termSize func(int) (int, int, error)
@@ -49,17 +48,13 @@
 }
 
 // Flush flushes the underlying buffer.
-func (w *Writer) Flush(lines int) (err error) {
+func (w *Writer) Flush(lines int) error {
+	_, err := w.buf.WriteTo(w.out)
 	// some terminals interpret 'cursor up 0' as 'cursor up 1'
-	if w.lines > 0 {
-		err = w.clearLines()
-		if err != nil {
-			return
-		}
+	if err == nil && lines > 0 {
+		err = w.clearLines(lines)
 	}
-	w.lines = lines
-	_, err = w.buf.WriteTo(w.out)
-	return
+	return err
 }
 
 // Write appends the contents of p to the underlying buffer.
@@ -83,9 +78,9 @@
 	return w.termSize(w.fd)
 }
 
-func (w *Writer) ansiCuuAndEd() error {
+func (w *Writer) ansiCuuAndEd(n int) error {
 	buf := make([]byte, 8)
-	buf = strconv.AppendInt(buf[:copy(buf, escOpen)], int64(w.lines), 10)
-	_, err := w.out.Write(append(buf, cuuAndEd...))
+	buf = strconv.AppendInt(buf[:copy(buf, escOpen)], int64(n), 10)
+	_, err := w.buf.Write(append(buf, cuuAndEd...))
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/cwriter/writer_posix.go b/cwriter/writer_posix.go
index 9d03197..d3e1acd 100644
--- a/cwriter/writer_posix.go
+++ b/cwriter/writer_posix.go
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
 )
 
-func (w *Writer) clearLines() error {
-	return w.ansiCuuAndEd()
+func (w *Writer) clearLines(n int) error {
+	return w.ansiCuuAndEd(n)
 }
 
 // GetSize returns the dimensions of the given terminal.
diff --git a/cwriter/writer_windows.go b/cwriter/writer_windows.go
index 91fdfb3..cc8d4d9 100644
--- a/cwriter/writer_windows.go
+++ b/cwriter/writer_windows.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 	procFillConsoleOutputCharacter = kernel32.NewProc("FillConsoleOutputCharacterW")
 )
 
-func (w *Writer) clearLines() error {
+func (w *Writer) clearLines(n int) error {
 	if !w.terminal {
 		// hope it's cygwin or similar
 		return w.ansiCuuAndEd()
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 		return err
 	}
 
-	info.CursorPosition.Y -= int16(w.lines)
+	info.CursorPosition.Y -= int16(n)
 	if info.CursorPosition.Y < 0 {
 		info.CursorPosition.Y = 0
 	}
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 		X: info.Window.Left,
 		Y: info.CursorPosition.Y,
 	}
-	count := uint32(info.Size.X) * uint32(w.lines)
+	count := uint32(info.Size.X) * uint32(n)
 	_, _, _ = procFillConsoleOutputCharacter.Call(
 		uintptr(w.fd),
 		uintptr(' '),