diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index e643239..f1fc668 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -220,6 +220,9 @@ static void tsetattr(const int *, int);
 static void tsetchar(Rune, const Glyph *, int, int);
 static void tsetdirt(int, int);
 static void tsetscroll(int, int);
+#if SIXEL_PATCH
+static inline void tsetsixelattr(Line line, int x1, int x2);
+#endif // SIXEL_PATCH
 static void tswapscreen(void);
 static void tsetmode(int, int, const int *, int);
 static int twrite(const char *, int, int);
@@ -1149,6 +1152,15 @@ tsetdirtattr(int attr)
 	}
 }
 
+#if SIXEL_PATCH
+void
+tsetsixelattr(Line line, int x1, int x2)
+{
+	for (; x1 <= x2; x1++)
+		line[x1].mode |= ATTR_SIXEL;
+}
+#endif // SIXEL_PATCH
+
 void
 tfulldirt(void)
 {
@@ -2592,7 +2604,7 @@ strhandle(void)
 	};
 	#if SIXEL_PATCH
 	ImageList *im, *newimages, *next, *tail;
-	int i, x, y, x1, y1, x2, y2, numimages;
+	int i, x1, y1, x2, y2, numimages;
 	int cx, cy;
 	Line line;
 	#if SCROLLBACK_PATCH || REFLOW_PATCH
@@ -2736,36 +2748,40 @@ strhandle(void)
 			} else {
 				term.images = newimages;
 			}
-			x2 = MIN(x2, term.col);
-			for (i = 0, im = newimages; im; im = next, i++) {
-				next = im->next;
-				#if SCROLLBACK_PATCH || REFLOW_PATCH
-				scr = IS_SET(MODE_ALTSCREEN) ? 0 : term.scr;
-				#endif // SCROLLBACK_PATCH
-				if (IS_SET(MODE_SIXEL_SDM)) {
+			x2 = MIN(x2, term.col) - 1;
+			if (IS_SET(MODE_SIXEL_SDM)) {
+				/* Sixel display mode: put the sixel in the upper left corner of
+				 * the screen, disable scrolling (the sixel will be truncated if
+				 * it is too long) and do not change the cursor position. */
+				for (i = 0, im = newimages; im; im = next, i++) {
+					next = im->next;
 					if (i >= term.row) {
 						delete_image(im);
 						continue;
 					}
 					im->y = i + scr;
-					line = term.line[i];
-				} else {
+					tsetsixelattr(term.line[i], x1, x2);
+					term.dirty[MIN(im->y, term.row-1)] = 1;
+				}
+			} else {
+				for (i = 0, im = newimages; im; im = next, i++) {
+					next = im->next;
+					#if SCROLLBACK_PATCH || REFLOW_PATCH
+					scr = IS_SET(MODE_ALTSCREEN) ? 0 : term.scr;
+					#endif // SCROLLBACK_PATCH
 					im->y = term.c.y + scr;
-					line = term.line[term.c.y];
-				}
-				for (x = im->x; x < x2; x++) {
-					line[x].mode |= ATTR_SIXEL;
-				}
-				term.dirty[MIN(im->y, term.row-1)] = 1;
-				if (!IS_SET(MODE_SIXEL_SDM) && i < numimages-1) {
-					im->next = NULL;
-					tnewline(0);
-					im->next = next;
+					tsetsixelattr(term.line[term.c.y], x1, x2);
+					term.dirty[MIN(im->y, term.row-1)] = 1;
+					if (i < numimages-1) {
+						im->next = NULL;
+						tnewline(0);
+						im->next = next;
+					}
 				}
+				/* if mode 8452 is set, sixel scrolling leaves cursor to right of graphic */
+				if (IS_SET(MODE_SIXEL_CUR_RT))
+					term.c.x = MIN(term.c.x + newimages->cols, term.col-1);
 			}
-			/* if mode 8452 is set, sixel scrolling leaves cursor to right of graphic */
-			if (!IS_SET(MODE_SIXEL_SDM) && IS_SET(MODE_SIXEL_CUR_RT))
-				term.c.x = MIN(term.c.x + newimages->cols, term.col-1);
 		}
 		#endif // SIXEL_PATCH
 		#if SYNC_PATCH