diff --git a/bar.go b/bar.go
index 9e61f04..f6aebd7 100644
--- a/bar.go
+++ b/bar.go
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@
 	shutdownListeners []decor.ShutdownListener
 	buffers           [3]*bytes.Buffer
 	filler            BarFiller
-	middleware        func(BarFiller) BarFiller
 	extender          extenderFunc
 	manualRefresh     chan interface{}
 
diff --git a/bar_option.go b/bar_option.go
index 953e9d2..bc389e0 100644
--- a/bar_option.go
+++ b/bar_option.go
@@ -101,7 +101,10 @@
 // BarFillerMiddleware provides a way to augment the underlying BarFiller.
 func BarFillerMiddleware(middle func(BarFiller) BarFiller) BarOption {
 	return func(s *bState) {
-		s.middleware = middle
+		if middle == nil {
+			return
+		}
+		s.filler = middle(s.filler)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/progress.go b/progress.go
index 29cc277..565fd60 100644
--- a/progress.go
+++ b/progress.go
@@ -413,11 +413,6 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	if bs.middleware != nil {
-		bs.filler = bs.middleware(filler)
-		bs.middleware = nil
-	}
-
 	for i := 0; i < len(bs.buffers); i++ {
 		bs.buffers[i] = bytes.NewBuffer(make([]byte, 0, 512))
 	}