diff --git a/src/textprop.c b/src/textprop.c
index 168b180..cd07844 100644
--- a/src/textprop.c
+++ b/src/textprop.c
@@ -758,6 +758,11 @@
     tp2 = &text_prop_compare_props[idx2];
     col1 = tp1->tp_col;
     col2 = tp2->tp_col;
+
+    // property that inserts text has priority over one that doesn't
+    if ((tp1->tp_id < 0) != (tp2->tp_id < 0))
+	return tp1->tp_id < 0 ? 1 : -1;
+
     if (col1 == MAXCOL || col2 == MAXCOL)
     {
 	int order1 = text_prop_order(tp1->tp_flags);
@@ -768,10 +773,6 @@
 	    return order1 < order2 ? 1 : -1;
     }
 
-    // property that inserts text has priority over one that doesn't
-    if ((tp1->tp_id < 0) != (tp2->tp_id < 0))
-	return tp1->tp_id < 0 ? 1 : -1;
-
     // check highest priority, defined by the type
     pt1 = text_prop_type_by_id(text_prop_compare_buf, tp1->tp_type);
     pt2 = text_prop_type_by_id(text_prop_compare_buf, tp2->tp_type);