diff --git a/pkg/gocui/view.go b/pkg/gocui/view.go
index d2dd9384c..d8223e5c1 100644
--- a/pkg/gocui/view.go
+++ b/pkg/gocui/view.go
@@ -2095,6 +2095,16 @@ func (v *View) SelectedLineIdx() int {
 	return seletedLineIdx
 }
 
+// MiddleVisibleLineIdx returns the index of the view line at the middle of the
+// content currently on screen. When the content is taller than the viewport this is
+// the middle row of the viewport; when it's shorter, it's the middle of the content,
+// so the result lands within the content rather than in the empty space below it.
+func (v *View) MiddleVisibleLineIdx() int {
+	top := v.OriginY()
+	bottom := min(top+v.InnerHeight(), v.ViewLinesHeight())
+	return (top + bottom) / 2
+}
+
 // expected to only be used in tests
 func (v *View) SelectedLine() string {
 	v.writeMutex.Lock()
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/main_view_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/main_view_controller.go
index 35de0db52..8b1205749 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/main_view_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/main_view_controller.go
@@ -203,8 +203,8 @@ func (self *MainViewController) toggleSelection() error {
 		v.Highlight = false
 		return nil
 	}
-	// Start the selection in the middle of the visible area.
-	showSelectionAtLine(v, v.OriginY()+v.InnerHeight()/2, false)
+	// Start the selection in the middle of the visible content.
+	showSelectionAtLine(v, v.MiddleVisibleLineIdx(), false)
 	return nil
 }