--- a/src/gui_mac.c
+++ b/src/gui_mac.c
@@ -3792,6 +3792,27 @@ gui_mch_draw_string(row, col, s, len, fl
 	(void)SwapQDTextFlags(qd_flags);
     }
 
+    /*
+     * When antialiasing we're using srcOr mode, we have to clear the block
+     * before drawing the text.
+     * Also needed when 'linespace' is non-zero to remove the cursor and
+     * underlining.
+     * But not when drawing transparently.
+     * The following is like calling gui_mch_clear_block(row, col, row, col +
+     * len - 1), but without setting the bg color to gui.back_pixel.
+     */
+    if (((sys_version >= 0x1020 && p_antialias) || p_linespace != 0)
+	    && !(flags & DRAW_TRANSP))
+    {
+	Rect rc;
+
+	rc.left = FILL_X(col);
+	rc.top = FILL_Y(row);
+	rc.right = FILL_X(col + len) + (col + len == Columns);
+	rc.bottom = FILL_Y(row + 1);
+	EraseRect(&rc);
+    }
+
     if (sys_version >= 0x1020 && p_antialias)
     {
 	StyleParameter face;
@@ -3806,22 +3827,6 @@ gui_mch_draw_string(row, col, s, len, fl
 	/* Quartz antialiasing works only in srcOr transfer mode. */
 	TextMode(srcOr);
 
-	if (!(flags & DRAW_TRANSP))
-	{
-	    /*
-	     * Since we're using srcOr mode, we have to clear the block
-	     * before drawing the text.  The following is like calling
-	     * gui_mch_clear_block(row, col, row, col + len - 1),
-	     * but without setting the bg color to gui.back_pixel.
-	     */
-	    Rect rc;
-	    rc.left = FILL_X(col);
-	    rc.top = FILL_Y(row);
-	    rc.right = FILL_X(col + len) + (col + len == Columns);
-	    rc.bottom = FILL_Y(row + 1);
-	    EraseRect(&rc);
-	}
-
 	MoveTo(TEXT_X(col), TEXT_Y(row));
 	DrawText((char*)s, 0, len);
     }