diff --git a/dmenu.c b/dmenu.c
index 5d11932..f105b56 100644
--- a/dmenu.c
+++ b/dmenu.c
@@ -454,6 +454,7 @@ readstdin(void) {
 	if(items)
 		items[i].text = NULL;
 	inputw = maxstr ? textw(dc, maxstr) : 0;
+	lines = MIN(lines, i);
 }
 
 void