diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index 28cf2e4..916c9a4 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -281,6 +281,7 @@ typedef struct {
 	int w, h; /* window width and height */
 	int ch; /* char height */
 	int cw; /* char width  */
+	int cyo; /* char y offset */
 	char state; /* focus, redraw, visible */
 	int cursor; /* cursor style */
 } XWindow;
@@ -3583,6 +3584,7 @@ xloadfonts(char *fontstr, double fontsize)
 	/* Setting character width and height. */
 	xw.cw = ceilf(dc.font.width * cwscale);
 	xw.ch = ceilf(dc.font.height * chscale);
+	xw.cyo = ceilf(dc.font.height * (chscale - 1) / 2);
 
 	FcPatternDel(pattern, FC_SLANT);
 	FcPatternAddInteger(pattern, FC_SLANT, FC_SLANT_ITALIC);
@@ -3808,7 +3810,7 @@ xmakeglyphfontspecs(XftGlyphFontSpec *specs, const Glyph *glyphs, int len, int x
 				font = &dc.bfont;
 				frcflags = FRC_BOLD;
 			}
-			yp = winy + font->ascent;
+			yp = winy + font->ascent + xw.cyo;
 		}
 
 		/* Lookup character index with default font. */
@@ -4019,12 +4021,12 @@ xdrawglyphfontspecs(const XftGlyphFontSpec *specs, Glyph base, int len, int x, i
 
 	/* Render underline and strikethrough. */
 	if (base.mode & ATTR_UNDERLINE) {
-		XftDrawRect(xw.draw, fg, winx, winy + dc.font.ascent + 1,
+		XftDrawRect(xw.draw, fg, winx, winy + xw.cyo + dc.font.ascent + 1,
 				width, 1);
 	}
 
 	if (base.mode & ATTR_STRUCK) {
-		XftDrawRect(xw.draw, fg, winx, winy + 2 * dc.font.ascent / 3,
+		XftDrawRect(xw.draw, fg, winx, winy + xw.cyo + 2 * dc.font.ascent / 3,
 				width, 1);
 	}