diff --git a/prelude.ld b/prelude.ld
index 116dea5..b5fa3c0 100644
--- a/prelude.ld
+++ b/prelude.ld
@@ -1111,7 +1111,8 @@ fn render_turtle! () -> {
 			add_call! ((:fill, r, g, b, a))
 			let #{heading
 				:pencolor (pen_r, pen_g, pen_b, pen_a)
-				:position (x, y) 
+				:position (x, y)
+				pendown?
 				...} = state
 			let first = mult ((0, 1), turtle_radius)
 			let (x1, y1) = first
@@ -1128,7 +1129,7 @@ fn render_turtle! () -> {
 			add_call! ((:endShape))
 			& there's a happy bug here: the stroke will be the same width as the pen width. Keep this for now. Consider also showing the pen colour here?
 			add_call! ((:stroke, pen_r, pen_g, pen_b, pen_a))
-			add_call! ((:line, 0, 0, x1, y1))
+			if pendown? then add_call! ((:line, 0, 0, x1, y1)) else nil
 			add_call! ((:pop))
 			:ok
 		}