diff --git a/i3bar/include/common.h b/i3bar/include/common.h
index 4ad33703..8b439ee0 100644
--- a/i3bar/include/common.h
+++ b/i3bar/include/common.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ typedef int bool;
 
 struct ev_loop* main_loop;
 char            *statusline;
+char            *statusline_buffer;
 
 struct rect_t {
 	int	x;
diff --git a/i3bar/src/child.c b/i3bar/src/child.c
index d7d55783..1fae7593 100644
--- a/i3bar/src/child.c
+++ b/i3bar/src/child.c
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ pid_t child_pid;
 ev_io    *stdin_io;
 ev_child *child_sig;
 
+/* The buffer statusline points to */
+char *statusline_buffer = NULL;
+
 /*
  * Stop and free() the stdin- and sigchild-watchers
  *
@@ -36,7 +39,7 @@ void cleanup() {
     ev_child_stop(main_loop, child_sig);
     FREE(stdin_io);
     FREE(child_sig);
-    FREE(statusline);
+    FREE(statusline_buffer);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -50,7 +53,7 @@ void stdin_io_cb(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *watcher, int revents) {
     int rec = 0;
     int buffer_len = STDIN_CHUNK_SIZE;
     char *buffer = malloc(buffer_len);
-    memset(buffer, '\0', buffer_len);
+    buffer[0] = '\0';
     while(1) {
         n = read(fd, buffer + rec, buffer_len - rec);
         if (n == -1) {
@@ -67,8 +70,10 @@ void stdin_io_cb(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *watcher, int revents) {
                 buffer_len += STDIN_CHUNK_SIZE;
                 buffer = realloc(buffer, buffer_len);
             } else {
-                /* remove trailing newline and finish up */
-                buffer[rec-1] = '\0';
+                if (rec != 0) {
+                    /* remove trailing newline and finish up */
+                    buffer[rec-1] = '\0';
+                }
                 break;
             }
         }
@@ -78,9 +83,13 @@ void stdin_io_cb(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *watcher, int revents) {
         FREE(buffer);
         return;
     }
-    FREE(statusline);
-    statusline = buffer;
-    DLOG("%s\n", buffer);
+    FREE(statusline_buffer);
+    statusline = statusline_buffer = buffer;
+    for (n = 0; buffer[n] != '\0'; ++n) {
+        if (buffer[n] == '\n')
+            statusline = &buffer[n + 1];
+    }
+    DLOG("%s\n", statusline);
     draw_bars();
 }
 
diff --git a/i3bar/src/main.c b/i3bar/src/main.c
index c2cf53e2..fce7fc29 100644
--- a/i3bar/src/main.c
+++ b/i3bar/src/main.c
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
     FREE(socket_path);
 
-    FREE(statusline);
+    FREE(statusline_buffer);
 
     clean_xcb();
     ev_default_destroy();