diff --git a/src/buffer.c b/src/buffer.c
index 5ee6299..1840e10 100644
--- a/src/buffer.c
+++ b/src/buffer.c
@@ -3506,7 +3506,7 @@
     char_u	*p;
     char_u	*s;
     char_u	*t;
-    char_u	*linecont;
+    int		byteval;
 #ifdef FEAT_EVAL
     win_T	*o_curwin;
     buf_T	*o_curbuf;
@@ -3573,12 +3573,21 @@
 	fillchar = '-';
 #endif
 
-    /*
-     * Get line & check if empty (cursorpos will show "0-1").
-     * If inversion is possible we use it. Else '=' characters are used.
-     */
-    linecont = ml_get_buf(wp->w_buffer, wp->w_cursor.lnum, FALSE);
-    empty_line = (*linecont == NUL);
+    /* Get line & check if empty (cursorpos will show "0-1").  Note that
+     * p will become invalid when getting another buffer line. */
+    p = ml_get_buf(wp->w_buffer, wp->w_cursor.lnum, FALSE);
+    empty_line = (*p == NUL);
+
+    /* Get the byte value now, in case we need it below. This is more
+     * efficient than making a copy of the line. */
+    if (wp->w_cursor.col > (colnr_T)STRLEN(p))
+	byteval = 0;
+    else
+#ifdef FEAT_MBYTE
+	byteval = (*mb_ptr2char)(p + wp->w_cursor.col);
+#else
+	byteval = p[wp->w_cursor.col];
+#endif
 
     groupdepth = 0;
     p = out;
@@ -3956,16 +3965,7 @@
 	case STL_BYTEVAL_X:
 	    base = 'X';
 	case STL_BYTEVAL:
-	    if (wp->w_cursor.col > (colnr_T)STRLEN(linecont))
-		num = 0;
-	    else
-	    {
-#ifdef FEAT_MBYTE
-		num = (*mb_ptr2char)(linecont + wp->w_cursor.col);
-#else
-		num = linecont[wp->w_cursor.col];
-#endif
-	    }
+	    num = byteval;
 	    if (num == NL)
 		num = 0;
 	    else if (num == CAR && get_fileformat(wp->w_buffer) == EOL_MAC)