diff --git a/src/client.cc b/src/client.cc
index 7dd22f88..d9fbf946 100644
--- a/src/client.cc
+++ b/src/client.cc
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ void Client::handle_available_input(EventMode mode)
             {
                 if (*key == ctrl('c'))
                     killpg(getpgrp(), SIGINT);
+                if (*key == ctrl('l'))
+                    redraw_ifn(true);
                 else if (*key == Key::FocusIn)
                     context().hooks().run_hook("FocusIn", context().name(), context());
                 else if (*key == Key::FocusOut)
@@ -171,18 +173,18 @@ static bool is_inline(InfoStyle style)
            style == InfoStyle::InlineBelow;
 }
 
-void Client::redraw_ifn()
+void Client::redraw_ifn(bool force)
 {
     Window& window = context().window();
 
     const bool needs_redraw = window.needs_redraw(context());
-    if (needs_redraw)
+    if (needs_redraw or force)
     {
         auto window_pos = window.position();
         m_ui->draw(window.update_display_buffer(context()), get_face("Default"));
 
 	// window moved, reanchor eventual menu and info
-        if (window_pos != window.position())
+        if (force or window_pos != window.position())
         {
             if (not m_menu.items.empty() and m_menu.style == MenuStyle::Inline)
             {
@@ -199,7 +201,7 @@ void Client::redraw_ifn()
     }
 
     DisplayLine mode_line = generate_mode_line();
-    if (needs_redraw or
+    if (force or needs_redraw or
         m_status_line.atoms() != m_pending_status_line.atoms() or
         mode_line.atoms() != m_mode_line.atoms())
     {
@@ -210,10 +212,10 @@ void Client::redraw_ifn()
         m_ui_dirty = true;
     }
 
-    if (m_ui_dirty)
+    if (m_ui_dirty or force)
     {
         m_ui_dirty = false;
-        m_ui->refresh();
+        m_ui->refresh(force);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/client.hh b/src/client.hh
index b5d13b7d..4674dce7 100644
--- a/src/client.hh
+++ b/src/client.hh
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ public:
     CharCoord dimensions() const { return m_ui->dimensions(); }
 
     void force_redraw();
-    void redraw_ifn();
+    void redraw_ifn(bool force = false);
 
     void check_if_buffer_needs_reloading();
 
diff --git a/src/json_ui.cc b/src/json_ui.cc
index 913113de..eb576094 100644
--- a/src/json_ui.cc
+++ b/src/json_ui.cc
@@ -197,9 +197,9 @@ void JsonUI::info_hide()
     rpc_call("info_hide");
 }
 
-void JsonUI::refresh()
+void JsonUI::refresh(bool force)
 {
-    rpc_call("refresh");
+    rpc_call("refresh", force);
 }
 
 void JsonUI::set_input_callback(InputCallback callback)
diff --git a/src/json_ui.hh b/src/json_ui.hh
index ec48bf41..563ff997 100644
--- a/src/json_ui.hh
+++ b/src/json_ui.hh
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public:
                    InfoStyle style) override;
     void info_hide() override;
 
-    void refresh() override;
+    void refresh(bool force) override;
 
     void set_input_callback(InputCallback callback) override;
 
diff --git a/src/main.cc b/src/main.cc
index 3f1cd10b..f8716d1d 100644
--- a/src/main.cc
+++ b/src/main.cc
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<UserInterface> create_local_ui(bool dummy_ui)
         CharCoord dimensions() override { return {24,80}; }
         bool is_key_available() override { return false; }
         Key  get_key() override { return Key::Invalid; }
-        void refresh() override {}
+        void refresh(bool) override {}
         void set_input_callback(InputCallback) override {}
         void set_ui_options(const Options&) override {}
     };
diff --git a/src/ncurses_ui.cc b/src/ncurses_ui.cc
index 5309ecb8..72c349c0 100644
--- a/src/ncurses_ui.cc
+++ b/src/ncurses_ui.cc
@@ -301,9 +301,12 @@ void NCursesUI::redraw()
     doupdate();
 }
 
-void NCursesUI::refresh()
+void NCursesUI::refresh(bool force)
 {
-    if (m_dirty)
+    if (force)
+        redrawwin(m_window);
+
+    if (m_dirty or force)
         redraw();
     m_dirty = false;
 }
@@ -491,11 +494,6 @@ Key NCursesUI::get_key()
 
     if (c > 0 and c < 27)
     {
-        if (c == control('l'))
-        {
-           redrawwin(m_window);
-           redraw();
-        }
         if (c == control('z'))
         {
             raise(SIGTSTP);
diff --git a/src/ncurses_ui.hh b/src/ncurses_ui.hh
index fdf1b6a7..870a3fc7 100644
--- a/src/ncurses_ui.hh
+++ b/src/ncurses_ui.hh
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
                    InfoStyle style) override;
     void info_hide() override;
 
-    void refresh() override;
+    void refresh(bool force) override;
 
     void set_input_callback(InputCallback callback) override;
 
diff --git a/src/remote.cc b/src/remote.cc
index e2756ef1..718d7f7d 100644
--- a/src/remote.cc
+++ b/src/remote.cc
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ public:
                      const DisplayLine& mode_line,
                      const Face& default_face) override;
 
-    void refresh() override;
+    void refresh(bool force) override;
 
     bool is_key_available() override;
     Key  get_key() override;
@@ -353,10 +353,11 @@ void RemoteUI::draw_status(const DisplayLine& status_line,
     msg.write(default_face);
 }
 
-void RemoteUI::refresh()
+void RemoteUI::refresh(bool force)
 {
     Message msg(m_socket_watcher.fd());
     msg.write(RemoteUIMsg::Refresh);
+    msg.write(force);
 }
 
 void RemoteUI::set_ui_options(const Options& options)
@@ -516,7 +517,7 @@ void RemoteClient::process_next_message()
         break;
     }
     case RemoteUIMsg::Refresh:
-        m_ui->refresh();
+        m_ui->refresh(read<bool>(socket));
         break;
     case RemoteUIMsg::SetOptions:
         m_ui->set_ui_options(read_idmap<String, MemoryDomain::Options>(socket));
diff --git a/src/user_interface.hh b/src/user_interface.hh
index 67553922..e8a30a4b 100644
--- a/src/user_interface.hh
+++ b/src/user_interface.hh
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public:
     virtual bool is_key_available() = 0;
     virtual Key  get_key() = 0;
 
-    virtual void refresh() = 0;
+    virtual void refresh(bool force) = 0;
 
     virtual void set_input_callback(InputCallback callback) = 0;