diff --git a/powerline/bindings/zsh/__init__.py b/powerline/bindings/zsh/__init__.py
index cbe5f957..1f93d272 100644
--- a/powerline/bindings/zsh/__init__.py
+++ b/powerline/bindings/zsh/__init__.py
@@ -178,7 +178,8 @@ class Prompt(object):
 				width=zsh.columns() - zle_rprompt_indent,
 				segment_info=segment_info,
 			):
-				r += line + '\n'
+				if line:
+					r += line + '\n'
 		r += self.powerline.render(
 			width=zsh.columns(),
 			side=self.side,
diff --git a/powerline/commands/main.py b/powerline/commands/main.py
index 8c41b476..7a4751dc 100644
--- a/powerline/commands/main.py
+++ b/powerline/commands/main.py
@@ -159,7 +159,8 @@ def write_output(args, powerline, segment_info, write):
 			segment_info=segment_info,
 			mode=segment_info.get('mode', None),
 		):
-			write(line + '\n')
+			if line:
+				write(line + '\n')
 		args.side = args.side[len('above'):]
 
 	if args.side:
diff --git a/powerline/renderer.py b/powerline/renderer.py
index c03c42e8..13c7a04f 100644
--- a/powerline/renderer.py
+++ b/powerline/renderer.py
@@ -378,7 +378,9 @@ class Renderer(object):
 		elif output_width:
 			current_width = self._render_length(theme, segments, divider_widths)
 
-		rendered_highlighted = ''.join([segment['_rendered_hl'] for segment in self._render_segments(theme, segments)]) + self.hlstyle()
+		rendered_highlighted = ''.join([segment['_rendered_hl'] for segment in self._render_segments(theme, segments)])
+		if rendered_highlighted:
+			rendered_highlighted += self.hlstyle()
 
 		return construct_returned_value(rendered_highlighted, segments, current_width, output_raw, output_width)