diff --git a/src/cmd/acme/cols.c b/src/cmd/acme/cols.c
index a53280c49..aa93fd1f2 100644
--- a/src/cmd/acme/cols.c
+++ b/src/cmd/acme/cols.c
@@ -128,9 +128,11 @@ coladd(Column *c, Window *w, Window *clone, int y)
 		w = emalloc(sizeof(Window));
 		w->col = c;
 		draw(screen, r, textcols[BACK], nil, ZP);
+		savemouse(w);
 		wininit(w, clone, r);
 	}else{
 		w->col = c;
+		savemouse(w);
 		winresize(w, r, FALSE, TRUE);
 	}
 	w->tag.col = c;
@@ -147,7 +149,6 @@ coladd(Column *c, Window *w, Window *clone, int y)
 	if(buggered)
 		colresize(c, c->r);
 
-	savemouse(w);
 	/* near the button, but in the body */
 	/* don't move the mouse to the new window if a mouse button is depressed */
 	if(!mousectl->m.buttons)
@@ -164,8 +165,10 @@ colclose(Column *c, Window *w, int dofree)
 	int i, didmouse, up;
 
 	/* w is locked */
-	if(!c->safe)
+	if(!c->safe){
 		colgrow(c, w, 1);
+		winmousebut(w);
+	}
 	for(i=0; i<c->nw; i++)
 		if(c->w[i] == w)
 			goto Found;
@@ -469,7 +472,6 @@ colgrow(Column *c, Window *w, int but)
 	free(nl);
 	free(ny);
 	c->safe = TRUE;
-	winmousebut(w);
 }
 
 void
@@ -480,8 +482,9 @@ coldragwin(Column *c, Window *w, int but)
 	Point p, op;
 	Window *v;
 	Column *nc;
-
-	clearmouse();
+	if(!but){
+		clearmouse();
+	}
 	setcursor2(mousectl, &boxcursor, &boxcursor2);
 	b = mouse->buttons;
 	op = mouse->xy;
diff --git a/src/cmd/acme/look.c b/src/cmd/acme/look.c
index 9c1d1c6b3..14ff21150 100644
--- a/src/cmd/acme/look.c
+++ b/src/cmd/acme/look.c
@@ -847,8 +847,10 @@ openfile(Text *t, Expand *e)
 	}
 	if(w){
 		t = &w->body;
-		if(!t->col->safe && t->fr.maxlines==0) /* window is obscured by full-column window */
+		if(!t->col->safe && t->fr.maxlines==0){ /* window is obscured by full-column window */
 			colgrow(t->col, t->col->w[0], 1);
+			winmousebut(t->col->w[0]);
+		}
 	}else{
 		ow = nil;
 		if(t)
diff --git a/src/cmd/acme/text.c b/src/cmd/acme/text.c
index 09422dda0..cba2c52c6 100644
--- a/src/cmd/acme/text.c
+++ b/src/cmd/acme/text.c
@@ -1112,8 +1112,10 @@ textshow(Text *t, uint q0, uint q1, int doselect)
 			textsetselect(t, q0, q1);
 		return;
 	}
-	if(t->w!=nil && t->fr.maxlines==0)
+	if(t->w!=nil && t->fr.maxlines==0){
 		colgrow(t->col, t->w, 1);
+		winmousebut(t->w);
+	}
 	if(doselect)
 		textsetselect(t, q0, q1);
 	qe = t->org+t->fr.nchars;
diff --git a/src/cmd/acme/util.c b/src/cmd/acme/util.c
index c153f8c18..d0004729f 100644
--- a/src/cmd/acme/util.c
+++ b/src/cmd/acme/util.c
@@ -491,7 +491,9 @@ makenewwindow(Text *t)
 		y = (bigw->r.min.y + bigw->r.max.y)/2;
 	}
 	w = coladd(c, nil, nil, y);
-	if(w->body.fr.maxlines < 2)
+	if(w->body.fr.maxlines < 2){
 		colgrow(w->col, w, 1);
+        winmousebut(w);
+    }
 	return w;
 }