diff --git a/fill3/fill3/__init__.py b/fill3/fill3/__init__.py
index 8785945..b36f3ac 100755
--- a/fill3/fill3/__init__.py
+++ b/fill3/fill3/__init__.py
@@ -245,20 +245,26 @@ class Portal:
             y = 0
         elif y > (widget_height - portal_height):
             y = widget_height - portal_height
-        return x, y
+        self.position = x, y
 
-    def appearance_for(self, dimensions):
-        width, height = dimensions
-        x, y = self.position
+    def appearance_for(self, portal_dimensions):
+        width, height = portal_dimensions
         try:
-            appearance = self.widget.appearance_interval((max(y, 0), y+height))
+            widget_dimensions = self.widget.appearance_dimensions()
+            if self.is_scroll_limited:
+                self.limit_scroll(portal_dimensions, widget_dimensions)
+            x, y = self.position
+            widget_appearance = self.widget.appearance_interval((max(y, 0), y + height))
         except AttributeError:
-            appearance = self.widget.appearance()[max(y, 0):y+height]
-        if self.is_scroll_limited:
-            x, y = self.limit_scroll(dimensions, appearance_dimensions(appearance))
-        self.last_dimensions = dimensions
+            widget_appearance = self.widget.appearance()
+            widget_dimensions = appearance_dimensions(self.widget.appearance())
+            if self.is_scroll_limited:
+                self.limit_scroll(portal_dimensions, widget_dimensions)
+            x, y = self.position
+            widget_appearance = widget_appearance[max(y, 0):y + height]
+        self.last_dimensions = portal_dimensions
         top = [self.background_char * width] * -y if y < 0 else []
-        bottom = appearance_resize([row[max(x, 0):x+width] for row in appearance],
+        bottom = appearance_resize([row[max(x, 0):x + width] for row in widget_appearance],
                                     (width + min(x, 0), height + min(y, 0)),
                                    self.background_char)
         if x < 0:
diff --git a/fill3/tests/fill3_test.py b/fill3/tests/fill3_test.py
index a9139a5..1bfcaca 100755
--- a/fill3/tests/fill3_test.py
+++ b/fill3/tests/fill3_test.py
@@ -47,13 +47,17 @@ class WidgetTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assert_string(portal.appearance_for((2, 1)), "r ")
         # limit scroll
         portal.position = (0, 0)
-        self.assertEqual(portal.limit_scroll((1, 1), (1, 1)), (0, 0))
+        portal.limit_scroll((1, 1), (1, 1))
+        self.assertEqual(portal.position, (0, 0))
         portal.position = (-1, 0)
-        self.assertEqual(portal.limit_scroll((1, 1), (1, 1)), (0, 0))
+        portal.limit_scroll((1, 1), (1, 1))
+        self.assertEqual(portal.position, (0, 0))
         portal.position = (1, 0)
-        self.assertEqual(portal.limit_scroll((6, 1), (1, 1)), (0, 0))
+        portal.limit_scroll((6, 1), (1, 1))
+        self.assertEqual(portal.position, (0, 0))
         portal.is_left_aligned = False
-        self.assertEqual(portal.limit_scroll((6, 1), (1, 1)), (-5, 0))
+        portal.limit_scroll((6, 1), (1, 1))
+        self.assertEqual(portal.position, (-5, 0))
 
     def test_border_widget(self):
         contents = fill3.Filler(self.TEXT_A)