diff --git a/.drone.yml b/.drone.yml
index 38c9594af..4f03effa8 100644
--- a/.drone.yml
+++ b/.drone.yml
@@ -25,22 +25,22 @@ steps:
     - export LANG=en_US.UTF-8
     - mkdir build
     - cd build
-    - cmake .. -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+    - cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DUSE_MULTIMEDIA=none ..
+    - make
+    - ./notcurses-tester -p ../data
+---
+kind: pipeline
+type: docker
+name: fedora-rawhide
+
+steps:
+- name: fedora-rawhide
+  image: dankamongmen/fedora33:2020-06-08a
+  commands:
+    - export LANG=en_US.UTF-8
+    - dnf install -y doctest-devel
+    - mkdir build
+    - cd build
+    - cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DUSE_MULTIMEDIA=oiio ..
     - make
     - ./notcurses-tester -p ../data
-#---
-#kind: pipeline
-#type: docker
-#name: fedora-rawhide
-#
-#steps:
-#- name: fedora-rawhide
-#  image: dankamongmen/fedora33:2020-05-29a
-#  commands:
-#    - export LANG=en_US.UTF-8
-#    - mkdir build
-#    - cd build
-#    - ls
-#    - cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DUSE_MULTIMEDIA=oiio ..
-#    - make
-#    - ./notcurses-tester -p ../data
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 8c34fb9ef..1f009a5fd 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ rearrangements of Notcurses.
     that `struct`'s `flags` field. Each `bool` has its own `NCOPTION_`.
   * Added a Pixel API for working directly with the contents of `ncvisual`s,
     including `ncvisual_at_yx()` and `ncvisual_set_yx()`.
+  * Added `ncplane_puttext()` for writing multiline, line-broken text.
+  * Added `ncplane_putnstr()`, `ncplane_putnstr_yx()`, and
+    `ncplane_putnstr_aligned()` for byte-limited output of UTF-8.
 
 * 1.4.5 (2020-06-04)
   * `ncblit_rgba()` and `ncblit_bgrx()` have replaced most of their arguments
diff --git a/USAGE.md b/USAGE.md
index 68251a693..4716aaaee 100644
--- a/USAGE.md
+++ b/USAGE.md
@@ -902,12 +902,11 @@ int ncplane_putwegc_stainable(struct ncplane* n, const wchar_t* gclust, int* sby
 
 // Write a series of EGCs to the current location, using the current style.
 // They will be interpreted as a series of columns (according to the definition
-// of ncplane_putc()). Advances the cursor by some positive number of cells
+// of ncplane_putc()). Advances the cursor by some positive number of columns
 // (though not beyond the end of the plane); this number is returned on success.
-// On error, a non-positive number is returned, indicating the number of cells
+// On error, a non-positive number is returned, indicating the number of columns
 // which were written before the error.
-static inline int
-ncplane_putstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* gclusters);
+int ncplane_putstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* gclusters);
 
 static inline int
 ncplane_putstr(struct ncplane* n, const char* gclustarr){
@@ -935,6 +934,22 @@ ncplane_putwstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const wchar_t* gclustarr){
   return ret;
 }
 
+// Write a series of EGCs to the current location, using the current style.
+// They will be interpreted as a series of columns (according to the definition
+// of ncplane_putc()). Advances the cursor by some positive number of columns
+// (though not beyond the end of the plane); this number is returned on success.
+// On error, a non-positive number is returned, indicating the number of columns
+// which were written before the error. No more than 's' bytes will be written.
+int ncplane_putnstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, size_t s, const char* gclusters);
+
+static inline int
+ncplane_putnstr(struct ncplane* n, size_t s, const char* gclustarr){
+  return ncplane_putnstr_yx(n, -1, -1, s, gclustarr);
+}
+
+int ncplane_putnstr_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align,
+                            size_t s, const char* s);
+
 static inline int
 ncplane_putwstr_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align,
                         const wchar_t* gclustarr){
@@ -1001,6 +1016,24 @@ ncplane_printf_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* fo
 }
 ```
 
+Multiline chunks of human-readable text can be written with
+`ncplane_puttext()` even if the plane does not have scrolling enabled. Such
+text will be broken up across lines using the Unicode line-breaking algorithm
+of [Unicode Annex #14](http://www.unicode.org/reports/tr14/tr14-34.html).
+
+```c
+// Write the specified text to the plane, breaking lines sensibly, beginning at
+// the specified line. Returns the number of columns written. When breaking a
+// line, the line will be cleared to the end of the plane (the last line will
+// *not* be so cleared). The number of bytes written from the input is written
+// to '*bytes' if it is not NULL. Cleared columns are included in the return
+// value, but *not* included in the number of bytes written. Leaves the cursor
+// at the end of output. A partial write will be accomplished as far as it can;
+// determine whether the write completed by inspecting '*bytes'.
+int ncplane_puttext(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align,
+                    const char* text, size_t* bytes);
+```
+
 Lines and boxes can be drawn, interpolating their colors between their two
 endpoints. For a line of a single color, be sure to specify the same channels
 on both sides. Boxes allow fairly detailed specification of how they're drawn.
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_output.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_output.3.md
index a46c06c16..53d0e72df 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_output.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_output.3.md
@@ -10,93 +10,83 @@ notcurses_output - output to ncplanes
 
 **#include <notcurses/notcurses.h>**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putc(struct ncplane* n, const cell* c);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putc(struct ncplane* n, const cell* c);**
 
 **int ncplane_putc_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const cell* c);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putsimple(struct ncplane* n, char c);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putsimple(struct ncplane* n, char c);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putsimple_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, char c);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putsimple_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, char c);**
 
 **int ncplane_putsimple_stainable(struct ncplane* n, char c);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putwc(struct ncplane* n, wchar_t w);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putwc(struct ncplane* n, wchar_t w);**
 
 **int ncplane_putwc_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, wchar_t w);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putegc(struct ncplane* n, const char* gclust, int* sbytes);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putegc(struct ncplane* n, const char* gclust, int* sbytes);**
 
 **int ncplane_putegc_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* gclust, int* sbytes);**
 
 **int ncplane_putegc_stainable(struct ncplane* n, const char* gclust, int* sbytes);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putwegc(struct ncplane* n, const wchar_t* gclust, int* sbytes);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putwegc(struct ncplane* n, const wchar_t* gclust, int* sbytes);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putwegc_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const wchar_t* gclust, int* sbytes);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putwegc_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const wchar_t* gclust, int* sbytes);**
 
 **int ncplane_putwegc_stainable(struct ncplane* n, const wchar_t* gclust, int* sbytes);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* gclustarr);**
+**int ncplane_putstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* gclustarr);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putstr(struct ncplane* n, const char* gclustarr);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putstr(struct ncplane* n, const char* gclustarr);**
 
-**int ncplane_putstr_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align,
-                               const char* s);**
+**int ncplane_putstr_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* s);**
 
 **int ncplane_putwstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const wchar_t* gclustarr);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putwstr_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align,
-                        const wchar_t* gclustarr);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putwstr_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const wchar_t* gclustarr);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_putwstr(struct ncplane* n, const wchar_t* gclustarr);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putwstr(struct ncplane* n, const wchar_t* gclustarr);**
 
-**int ncplane_vprintf_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align,
-                                const char* format, va_list ap);**
+**int ncplane_putnstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, size_t s, const char* gclusters);**
 
-**int ncplane_vprintf_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x,
-                           const char* format, va_list ap);**
+**static inline int ncplane_putnstr(struct ncplane* n, size_t s, const char* gclustarr);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_vprintf(struct ncplane* n, const char* format, va_list ap);**
+**int ncplane_putnstr_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, size_t s, const char* s);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_printf(struct ncplane* n, const char* format, ...);**
+**int ncplane_vprintf_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* format, va_list ap);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_printf_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* format, ...);**
+**int ncplane_vprintf_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* format, va_list ap);**
 
-**static inline int
-ncplane_printf_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* format, ...);**
+**static inline int ncplane_vprintf(struct ncplane* n, const char* format, va_list ap);**
+
+**static inline int ncplane_printf(struct ncplane* n, const char* format, ...);**
+
+**static inline int ncplane_printf_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* format, ...);**
+
+**static inline int ncplane_printf_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* format, ...);**
 
 **int ncplane_cursor_move_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x);**
 
+**int ncplane_puttext(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* text, size_t* bytes);**
+
 # DESCRIPTION
 
 These functions write EGCs (Extended Grapheme Clusters) to the specified
 **struct ncplane**s. The following inputs are supported:
 
-* **ncplane_putc(3)**: writes a single cell (see **notcurses_cell(3)**)
-* **ncplane_put_simple(3)**: writes a single 7-bit ASCII character
-* **ncplane_putwc(3)**: writes a single **wchar_t** (following UTF-8 conversion)
-* **ncplane_putwegc(3)**: writes a single EGC from an array of **wchar_t**
-* **ncplane_putegc(3)**: writes a single EGC from an array of UTF-8
-* **ncplane_putstr(3)**: writes a set of EGCs from an array of UTF-8
-* **ncplane_putwstr(3)**: writes a set of EGCs from an array of **wchar_t**
-* **ncplane_vprintf(3)**: formatted output using **va_list**
-* **ncplane_printf(3)**: formatted output using variadic arguments
+* **ncplane_putc()**: writes a single cell (see **notcurses_cell(3)**)
+* **ncplane_put_simple()**: writes a single 7-bit ASCII character
+* **ncplane_putwc()**: writes a single **wchar_t** (following UTF-8 conversion)
+* **ncplane_putwegc()**: writes a single EGC from an array of **wchar_t**
+* **ncplane_putegc()**: writes a single EGC from an array of UTF-8
+* **ncplane_putstr()**: writes a set of EGCs from an array of UTF-8
+* **ncplane_putwstr()**: writes a set of EGCs from an array of **wchar_t**
+* **ncplane_vprintf()**: formatted output using **va_list**
+* **ncplane_printf()**: formatted output using variadic arguments
+* **ncplane_puttext()**: multi-line, line-broken, aligned text
 
-All of these use the **ncplane**'s active styling, save **notcurses_putc(3)**,
+All of these use the **ncplane**'s active styling, save **notcurses_putc()**,
 which uses the cell's styling. Functions accepting a single EGC expect a series
 of **wchar_t** terminated by **L'\0'** or a series of UTF-8 **char** terminated
 by **'\0'**. The EGC must be well-formed, and must not contain any cluster
@@ -104,10 +94,10 @@ breaks. For more information, consult [Unicode® Standard Annex #29](https://uni
 Functions accepting a set of EGCs must consist of a series of well-formed EGCs,
 broken by cluster breaks, terminated by the appropriate NUL terminator.
 
-These functions output to the `ncplane`'s current cursor location. They *do not*
-move to the next line upon reaching the right extreme of the containing plane.
-If the entirety of the content cannot be output, they will output as much as
-possible.
+These functions output to the `ncplane`'s current cursor location. Aside from
+**ncplane_puttext()**, they *do not* move to the next line upon reaching the
+right extreme of the containing plane. If the entirety of the content cannot be
+output, they will output as much as possible.
 
 Each of these base functions has two additional forms:
 
diff --git a/doc/release-checklist.md b/doc/release-checklist.md
index cc51acb73..a5a74e4e4 100644
--- a/doc/release-checklist.md
+++ b/doc/release-checklist.md
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+* Review the testing checklist (doc/testing-checklist.md)
 * clang-tidy check with something like:
   * `cmake "-DCMAKE_CXX_CLANG_TIDY=/usr/bin/clang-tidy-11;-checks=-*,clang-analyzer-*,modernize-*,performance-*" ..`
   * `scan-build cmake .. && scan-build make`
diff --git a/doc/testing-checklist.md b/doc/testing-checklist.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c3e34c641
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/testing-checklist.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Release testing
+
+## Unit tests
+
+Run unit tests (`make && make test`):
+* In each multimedia configuration (`ffmpeg`, `oiio`, `none`)
+* With LANG set to `fr_FR.UTF-8` (to test comma as decimal separator)
+* All must pass
+
+## Manual tests
+
+Run, using `valgrind --tool=memcheck --leak-check=full`:
+* `notcurses-demo` in each of the three multimedia configurations
+* `notcurses-demo` with `USE_QRCODEGEN=off`
+* `notcurses-ncreel`
+* `notcurses-input`
+* `notcurses-view` with each scaling mode and an image + video, in three
+   terminal geometries: square, tall, wide
+* `notcurses-demo` with margins
+* `notcurses-demo` with FPS plot and HUD up
+* Play a game of `notcurses-tetris`
+* Run each PoC binary, including `ncpp_build` and `ncpp_build_exceptions`
diff --git a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
index d2c5b49ae..58eab4085 100644
--- a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
+++ b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
@@ -1438,32 +1438,11 @@ API int ncplane_putwegc_stainable(struct ncplane* n, const wchar_t* gclust, int*
 
 // Write a series of EGCs to the current location, using the current style.
 // They will be interpreted as a series of columns (according to the definition
-// of ncplane_putc()). Advances the cursor by some positive number of cells
+// of ncplane_putc()). Advances the cursor by some positive number of columns
 // (though not beyond the end of the plane); this number is returned on success.
-// On error, a non-positive number is returned, indicating the number of cells
+// On error, a non-positive number is returned, indicating the number of columns
 // which were written before the error.
-static inline int
-ncplane_putstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* gclusters){
-  int ret = 0;
-  // FIXME speed up this blissfully naive solution
-  while(*gclusters){
-    int wcs;
-    int cols = ncplane_putegc_yx(n, y, x, gclusters, &wcs);
-    if(cols < 0){
-      return -ret;
-    }
-    if(wcs == 0){
-      break;
-    }
-    // after the first iteration, just let the cursor code control where we
-    // print, so that scrolling is taken into account
-    y = -1;
-    x = -1;
-    gclusters += wcs;
-    ret += wcs;
-  }
-  return ret;
-}
+API int ncplane_putstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* gclusters);
 
 static inline int
 ncplane_putstr(struct ncplane* n, const char* gclustarr){
@@ -1473,6 +1452,22 @@ ncplane_putstr(struct ncplane* n, const char* gclustarr){
 API int ncplane_putstr_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align,
                                const char* s);
 
+// Write a series of EGCs to the current location, using the current style.
+// They will be interpreted as a series of columns (according to the definition
+// of ncplane_putc()). Advances the cursor by some positive number of columns
+// (though not beyond the end of the plane); this number is returned on success.
+// On error, a non-positive number is returned, indicating the number of columns
+// which were written before the error. No more than 's' bytes will be written.
+API int ncplane_putnstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, size_t s, const char* gclusters);
+
+static inline int
+ncplane_putnstr(struct ncplane* n, size_t s, const char* gclustarr){
+  return ncplane_putnstr_yx(n, -1, -1, s, gclustarr);
+}
+
+API int ncplane_putnstr_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align,
+                                size_t s, const char* gclustarr);
+
 // ncplane_putstr(), but following a conversion from wchar_t to UTF-8 multibyte.
 static inline int
 ncplane_putwstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const wchar_t* gclustarr){
@@ -1572,6 +1567,17 @@ ncplane_printf_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* fo
   return ret;
 }
 
+// Write the specified text to the plane, breaking lines sensibly, beginning at
+// the specified line. Returns the number of columns written. When breaking a
+// line, the line will be cleared to the end of the plane (the last line will
+// *not* be so cleared). The number of bytes written from the input is written
+// to '*bytes' if it is not NULL. Cleared columns are included in the return
+// value, but *not* included in the number of bytes written. Leaves the cursor
+// at the end of output. A partial write will be accomplished as far as it can;
+// determine whether the write completed by inspecting '*bytes'.
+API int ncplane_puttext(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align,
+                        const char* text, size_t* bytes);
+
 // Draw horizontal or vertical lines using the specified cell, starting at the
 // current cursor position. The cursor will end at the cell following the last
 // cell output (even, perhaps counter-intuitively, when drawing vertical
diff --git a/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py b/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py
index f67ac5ab0..67bb3c780 100644
--- a/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py
+++ b/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py
@@ -497,6 +497,9 @@ struct ncplane* ncreader_plane(struct ncreader* n);
 bool ncreader_offer_input(struct ncreader* n, const struct ncinput* ni);
 char* ncreader_contents(const struct ncreader* n);
 void ncreader_destroy(struct ncreader* n, char** contents);
+int ncplane_puttext(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* text, size_t* bytes);
+int ncplane_putnstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, size_t s, const char* gclusters);
+int ncplane_putnstr_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, size_t s, const char* gclustarr);
 """)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index c0ecfbab6..9fc941278 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ typedef struct notcurses {
 
   // desired margins (best-effort only), copied in from notcurses_options
   int margin_t, margin_b, margin_r, margin_l;
-
+  int loglevel;
   palette256 palette; // 256-indexed palette can be used instead of/with RGB
   bool palette_damage[NCPALETTESIZE];
   struct esctrie* inputescapes; // trie of input escapes -> ncspecial_keys
@@ -757,6 +757,11 @@ calc_gradient_channels(uint64_t* channels, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
   }
 }
 
+void nclog(const char* fmt, ...);
+
+// logging
+#define logerror(nc, fmt, ...) do{ if(nc->loglevel >= NCLOGLEVEL_ERROR){ nclog(__FILE__ "%d" fmt, __LINE__, ##__VA_ARGS__); } }while(0);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 3c13db3f2..70c3e9366 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -854,7 +854,8 @@ notcurses* notcurses_init(const notcurses_options* opts, FILE* outfp){
     term_verify_seq(&ret->tcache.rmcup, "rmcup");
   }
   ret->bottom = ret->top = ret->stdscr = NULL;
-  if(ncvisual_init(ffmpeg_log_level(opts->loglevel))){
+  ret->loglevel = opts->loglevel;
+  if(ncvisual_init(ffmpeg_log_level(ret->loglevel))){
     goto err;
   }
   if((ret->stdscr = create_initial_ncplane(ret, dimy, dimx)) == NULL){
@@ -1477,6 +1478,73 @@ int ncplane_hline_interp(ncplane* n, const cell* c, int len,
   return ret;
 }
 
+int ncplane_puttext(ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* text, size_t* bytes){
+  int totalcols = 0;
+  // save the beginning for diagnostic
+  const char* beginning = text;
+  // text points to the text we have *not* yet output. at each step, we see
+  // how much space we have available, and begin iterating from text. remember
+  // the most recent linebreaker that we see. when we exhaust our line, print
+  // through the linebreaker, and advance text.
+  // FIXME what about a long word? do we want to leave the big gap?
+  const int dimx = ncplane_dim_x(n);
+  const char* linestart = text;
+  int x = 0; // number of columns consumed for this line
+  do{
+    const char* breaker = NULL;
+    // figure how much text to output on this line
+    mbstate_t mbstate = {};
+    int width;
+    // verified columns thus far (carried, and through breaker)
+    size_t verifiedcols = x;
+    while(*text && x < dimx - 1){
+      wchar_t w;
+      size_t consumed = mbrtowc(&w, text, MB_CUR_MAX, &mbstate);
+      if(consumed == (size_t)-2 || consumed == (size_t)-1){
+        logerror(n->nc, "Invalid UTF-8 after %zu bytes\n", text - beginning);
+        *bytes = text - beginning;
+        return -1;
+      }
+      width = wcwidth(w);
+      if(width < 0){
+        logerror(n->nc, "Non-printable UTF-8 after %zu bytes\n", text - beginning);
+        *bytes = text - beginning;
+        return -1;
+      }
+      if(x + width >= dimx){
+        break;
+      }
+      // FIXME use the more advanced unicode functionality to break lines
+      if(iswspace(w)){
+        breaker = text;
+        verifiedcols = x;
+      }
+      x += width;
+      text += consumed;
+    }
+    int carrycols = 0;
+    if(x >= dimx){
+      // the last character was one past the amount we can print. set linestart
+      // back to breaker, set carrycols to the amount since breaker
+      carrycols = x - verifiedcols;
+    }
+    totalcols += verifiedcols;
+    const int xpos = ncplane_align(n, align, x);
+    if(breaker == NULL){
+      breaker = text;
+    }
+    if(ncplane_putnstr_yx(n, y, xpos, breaker - linestart, linestart) < 0){ 
+      *bytes = linestart - beginning;
+      return -1;
+    }
+    x = carrycols;
+    linestart = breaker + 1;
+    ++y; // FIXME scrolling!
+  }while(*text);
+  *bytes = text - beginning;
+  return totalcols;
+}
+
 int ncplane_vline_interp(ncplane* n, const cell* c, int len,
                          uint64_t c1, uint64_t c2){
   unsigned ur, ug, ub;
@@ -2097,3 +2165,54 @@ void ncplane_center_abs(const ncplane* n, int* RESTRICT y, int* RESTRICT x){
     *x += n->absx;
   }
 }
+
+void nclog(const char* fmt, ...){
+  va_list va;
+  va_start(va, fmt);
+  vfprintf(stderr, fmt, va);
+  va_end(va);
+}
+
+int ncplane_putstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, const char* gclusters){
+  int ret = 0;
+  // FIXME speed up this blissfully naive solution
+  while(*gclusters){
+    int wcs;
+    int cols = ncplane_putegc_yx(n, y, x, gclusters, &wcs);
+    if(cols < 0){
+      return -ret;
+    }
+    if(wcs == 0){
+      break;
+    }
+    // after the first iteration, just let the cursor code control where we
+    // print, so that scrolling is taken into account
+    y = -1;
+    x = -1;
+    gclusters += wcs;
+    ret += wcs;
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
+
+int ncplane_putnstr_yx(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, size_t s, const char* gclusters){
+  size_t ret = 0;
+  // FIXME speed up this blissfully naive solution
+  while(ret < s && *gclusters){
+    int wcs;
+    int cols = ncplane_putegc_yx(n, y, x, gclusters, &wcs);
+    if(cols < 0){
+      return -ret;
+    }
+    if(wcs == 0){
+      break;
+    }
+    // after the first iteration, just let the cursor code control where we
+    // print, so that scrolling is taken into account
+    y = -1;
+    x = -1;
+    gclusters += wcs;
+    ret += wcs;
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/render.c b/src/lib/render.c
index 8fbd2d6f6..ec1beda70 100644
--- a/src/lib/render.c
+++ b/src/lib/render.c
@@ -120,7 +120,11 @@ void cell_release(ncplane* n, cell* c){
 
 // Duplicate one cell onto another when they share a plane. Convenience wrapper.
 int cell_duplicate(ncplane* n, cell* targ, const cell* c){
-  return cell_duplicate_far(&n->pool, targ, n, c);
+  int r = cell_duplicate_far(&n->pool, targ, n, c);
+  if(r < 0){
+    logerror(n->nc, "Failed duplicating cell");
+  }
+  return r;
 }
 
 // the heart of damage detection. compare two cells (from two different planes)
diff --git a/tests/layout.cpp b/tests/layout.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3a6c08f9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/layout.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#include "main.h"
+#include "internal.h"
+
+TEST_CASE("TextLayout") {
+  notcurses_options nopts{};
+  notcurses* nc_ = notcurses_init(&nopts, nullptr);
+  if(!nc_){
+    return;
+  }
+  ncplane* ncp_ = notcurses_stdplane(nc_);
+  REQUIRE(ncp_);
+
+  const char str[] = "this is going to be broken up";
+
+  SUBCASE("LayoutLeft") {
+    auto sp = ncplane_new(nc_, 2, 20, 0, 0, nullptr);
+    REQUIRE(sp);
+    size_t bytes;
+    CHECK(0 < ncplane_puttext(sp, 0, NCALIGN_LEFT, str, &bytes));
+    CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
+    CHECK(bytes == strlen(str));
+    // FIXME inspect layout
+    ncplane_destroy(sp);
+  }
+
+  SUBCASE("LayoutRight") {
+    auto sp = ncplane_new(nc_, 2, 20, 0, 0, nullptr);
+    REQUIRE(sp);
+    size_t bytes;
+    CHECK(0 < ncplane_puttext(sp, 0, NCALIGN_RIGHT, str, &bytes));
+    CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
+    CHECK(bytes == strlen(str));
+    // FIXME inspect layout
+    ncplane_destroy(sp);
+  }
+
+  SUBCASE("LayoutCenter") {
+    auto sp = ncplane_new(nc_, 2, 20, 0, 0, nullptr);
+    REQUIRE(sp);
+    size_t bytes;
+    CHECK(0 < ncplane_puttext(sp, 0, NCALIGN_CENTER, str, &bytes));
+    CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
+    CHECK(bytes == strlen(str));
+    // FIXME inspect layout
+    ncplane_destroy(sp);
+  }
+
+  CHECK(0 == notcurses_stop(nc_));
+
+}