diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/vnc/draw.c b/sys/src/cmd/vnc/draw.c
index eac717833..b83060f69 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/vnc/draw.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/vnc/draw.c
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ vncsetdim(Vnc *v, Rectangle dim)
 	pixbuf = realloc(pixbuf, v->dim.max.x * pixb * v->dim.max.y);
 	if(linebuf == nil || pixbuf == nil)
 		sysfatal("can't allocate pix decompression storage");
+	lockdisplay(display);
+	adjustwin(v, 0);
+	unlockdisplay(display);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -79,7 +82,7 @@ requestupdate(Vnc *v, int incremental)
 	r = rectsubpt(screen->r, screen->r.min);
 	unlockdisplay(display);
 	vnclock(v);
-	if(incremental == 0 && v->canresize && !eqrect(r, v->dim)){
+	if(incremental == 0 && (v->canresize&2)!=0 && !eqrect(r, v->dim)){
 		vncwrchar(v, MSetDesktopSize);
 		vncwrchar(v, 0);
 		vncwrpoint(v, r.max);
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/vnc/vncv.h b/sys/src/cmd/vnc/vncv.h
index c4f9bcbe3..564ef0b9c 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/vnc/vncv.h
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/vnc/vncv.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ extern	Vnc*		vnc;
 extern	int		mousefd;
 
 /* wsys.c */
+extern	void		adjustwin(Vnc*, int);
 extern	void		readkbd(Vnc*);
 extern	void		initmouse(void);
 extern	void		mousewarp(Point);
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/vnc/wsys.c b/sys/src/cmd/vnc/wsys.c
index 21c8ce424..81ffb39d9 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/vnc/wsys.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/vnc/wsys.c
@@ -10,35 +10,46 @@ struct Mouse {
 	Point xy;
 };
 
-static void
-resize(Vnc *v, int first)
+void
+adjustwin(Vnc *v, int force)
 {
 	int fd;
 	Point d;
 
-	lockdisplay(display);
-	if(getwindow(display, Refnone) < 0)
-		sysfatal("internal error: can't get the window image");
-	if(!v->canresize){
+	if(force)
+		d = v->dim.max;
+	else {
 		/*
 		 * limit the window to at most the vnc server's size
 		 */
-		d = addpt(v->dim.max, Pt(2*Borderwidth, 2*Borderwidth));
-		if(first || d.x < Dx(screen->r) || d.y < Dy(screen->r)){
-			fd = open("/dev/wctl", OWRITE);
-			if(fd >= 0){
-				fprint(fd, "resize -dx %d -dy %d", d.x, d.y);
-				close(fd);
-			}
+		d = subpt(screen->r.max, screen->r.min);
+		if(d.x > v->dim.max.x){
+			d.x = v->dim.max.x;
+			force = 1;
+		}
+		if(d.y > v->dim.max.y){
+			d.y = v->dim.max.y;
+			force = 1;
+		}
+	}
+	if(force) {
+		fd = open("/dev/wctl", OWRITE);
+		if(fd >= 0){
+			fprint(fd, "resize -dx %d -dy %d", d.x+2*Borderwidth, d.y+2*Borderwidth);
+			close(fd);
 		}
 	}
-	unlockdisplay(display);
 }
 
 static void
-eresized(void)
+resized(int first)
 {
-	resize(vnc, 0);
+	lockdisplay(display);
+	if(getwindow(display, Refnone) < 0)
+		sysfatal("internal error: can't get the window image");
+	if((vnc->canresize&2) == 0)
+		adjustwin(vnc, first);
+	unlockdisplay(display);
 	requestupdate(vnc, 0);
 }
 
@@ -130,8 +141,7 @@ readmouse(Vnc *v)
 	memmove(curs+2*4, cs->clr, 2*2*16);
 	write(cursorfd, curs, sizeof curs);
 
-	resize(v, 1);
-	requestupdate(vnc, 0);
+	resized(1);
 	start = end = buf;
 	len = 0;
 	for(;;){
@@ -155,8 +165,7 @@ readmouse(Vnc *v)
 					}
 				}
 			} else
-				eresized();
-
+				resized(0);
 			start += EventSize;
 			len -= EventSize;
 		}