diff --git a/visidata/cliptext.py b/visidata/cliptext.py
index 36f4ab44f..18e18a593 100644
--- a/visidata/cliptext.py
+++ b/visidata/cliptext.py
@@ -298,6 +298,9 @@ def wraptext(text, width=80, indent=''):
     '''
     import re
 
+    if width <= 0:
+        return
+
     for line in text.splitlines():
         if not line:
             yield '', ''