diff --git a/language.version b/language.version
index 0b173b918..48f48f8bf 100644
--- a/language.version
+++ b/language.version
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [default]
-SWWM_MODVER="\cyDEMOLITIONIST \cw1.3pre r1161 \cu(Sun Nov 17 16:24:53 CET 2024)\c-";
-SWWM_SHORTVER="\cw1.3pre r1161 \cu(2024-11-17 16:24:53)\c-";
+SWWM_MODVER="\cyDEMOLITIONIST \cw1.3pre r1162 \cu(Tue Dec  3 09:53:07 CET 2024)\c-";
+SWWM_SHORTVER="\cw1.3pre r1162 \cu(2024-12-03 09:53:07)\c-";
diff --git a/zscript/hud/swwm_hud_messages.zsc b/zscript/hud/swwm_hud_messages.zsc
index a230569c5..9e6ba3c9e 100644
--- a/zscript/hud/swwm_hud_messages.zsc
+++ b/zscript/hud/swwm_hud_messages.zsc
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ extend Class SWWMStatusBar
 			PickupQueue.Clear();
 			midstr = "";
 			midtic = 0;
+			if ( midl ) midl.Destroy();
 			ntagstr = "";
 			ntagtic = 0;
 			return;
@@ -199,6 +200,13 @@ extend Class SWWMStatusBar
 			midstr = msg;
 			midtic = level.totaltime;
 			midtype = bold?2:0;
+			if ( midl ) midl.Destroy();
+			// don't forget to log to console, like gzdoom itself does
+			// (also, account for potential unterminated color escapes)
+			Console.PrintfEx(PRINT_HIGH|PRINT_NONOTIFY,
+				"----------------------------------------\n"
+				.."%s\c-\n"
+				.."----------------------------------------",msg);
 			return true;
 		}
 		if ( (fnt == bigfont) || (fnt == originalbigfont) )
@@ -206,6 +214,13 @@ extend Class SWWMStatusBar
 			midstr = msg;
 			midtic = level.totaltime;
 			midtype = bold?3:1;
+			if ( midl ) midl.Destroy();
+			// don't forget to log to console, like gzdoom itself does
+			// (also, account for potential unterminated color escapes)
+			Console.PrintfEx(PRINT_HIGH|PRINT_NONOTIFY,
+				"----------------------------------------\n"
+				.."%s\c-\n"
+				.."----------------------------------------",msg);
 			return true;
 		}
 		return false;
@@ -335,10 +350,11 @@ extend Class SWWMStatusBar
 			int col = (midtype&2)?msgmidcolor2:msgmidcolor;
 			double curtime = (midtic+int(GameTicRate*con_midtime))-(level.totaltime+fractic);
 			double alph = clamp(curtime/20.,0.,1.);
-			if ( !midl || (midsz != int(ss0.x*ssp)) )
+			if ( !midl || (midsz != int(min(ss0.x,ss0.y/.5625)*ssp)) )
 			{
 				if ( midl ) midl.Destroy();
-				midl = mSmallFont.BreakLines(midstr,int(min(ss0.x,ss0.y/.5625)*ssp));
+				midsz = int(min(ss0.x,ss0.y/.5625)*ssp);
+				midl = mSmallFont.BreakLines(midstr,midsz);
 			}
 			int h = mSmallFont.GetHeight();
 			int maxlen = 0;