diff --git a/mandel.s b/mandel.s
index b7c323b..ed7ae40 100644
--- a/mandel.s
+++ b/mandel.s
@@ -142,26 +142,32 @@ KEY_0     = 50
 
 strings:
 str_self:
-    .byte "MANDEL-6502", 0
+    .byte "MANDEL-6502"
 str_self_end:
+    .byte 0
 str_speed:
-    .byte "us/iter: ", 0
+    .byte "us/iter: "
 str_speed_end:
+    .byte 0
 str_run:
-    .byte " RUN", 0
+    .byte " RUN"
 str_run_end:
+    .byte 0
 str_done:
-    .byte "DONE", 0
+    .byte "DONE"
 str_done_end:
+    .byte 0
+str_padding:
+    .byte "      "
+str_padding_end:
+    .byte 0
 
-str_self_len = str_self_end - str_self
 str_speed_len = str_speed_end - str_speed
 str_run_len = str_run_end - str_run
 str_done_len = str_done_end - str_done
-speed_precision = 6
+str_padding_len = str_padding_end - str_padding
 
-speed_start = 40 - str_done_len - str_speed_len - speed_precision - 1
-speed_len = 14 + str_speed_len
+speed_start = 40 - str_done_len - str_speed_len - str_padding_len - 1
 
 
 char_map:
@@ -1288,6 +1294,14 @@ done:
     rts
 .endproc
 
+.macro draw_string_const str
+    lda #.lobyte(str)
+    sta INBUFF
+    lda #.hibyte(str)
+    sta INBUFF + 1
+    jsr draw_string
+.endmacro
+
 .proc vblank_handler
     inc count_frames
 
@@ -1506,19 +1520,11 @@ zero_byte_loop:
     sta text_col
     lda #0
     sta text_row
-    lda #.lobyte(str_self)
-    sta INBUFF
-    lda #.hibyte(str_self)
-    sta INBUFF + 1
-    jsr draw_string
+    draw_string_const str_self
 
     lda #(40 - str_run_len)
     sta text_col
-    lda #.lobyte(str_run)
-    sta INBUFF
-    lda #.hibyte(str_run)
-    sta INBUFF + 1
-    jsr draw_string
+    draw_string_const str_run
 
     rts
 .endproc
@@ -1773,11 +1779,13 @@ update_status:
     sta text_col
     lda #0
     sta text_row
-    lda #.lobyte(str_speed)
-    sta INBUFF
-    lda #.hibyte(str_speed)
-    sta INBUFF + 1
-    jsr draw_string
+    draw_string_const str_speed
+
+    lda text_col
+    pha
+    draw_string_const str_padding
+    pla
+    sta text_col
 
     ; convert to ASCII in INBUFF and print
     jsr FASC
@@ -1834,11 +1842,7 @@ loop:
     sta text_col
     lda #0
     sta text_row
-    lda #.lobyte(str_done)
-    sta INBUFF
-    lda #.hibyte(str_done)
-    sta INBUFF + 1
-    jsr draw_string
+    draw_string_const str_done
 
     jsr keycheck
     beq loop