diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/picker.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/picker.rs
index 06e424ea1..e040e0ff5 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/picker.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/picker.rs
@@ -124,9 +124,13 @@ impl<T: 'static> Component for FilePicker<T> {
         }) {
             // align to middle
             let first_line = line
-                .map(|(start, _)| start)
-                .unwrap_or(0)
-                .saturating_sub(inner.height as usize / 2);
+                .map(|(start, end)| {
+                    let height = end.saturating_sub(start) + 1;
+                    let middle = start + (height.saturating_sub(1) / 2);
+                    middle.saturating_sub(inner.height as usize / 2).min(start)
+                })
+                .unwrap_or(0);
+
             let offset = Position::new(first_line, 0);
 
             let highlights = EditorView::doc_syntax_highlights(