diff --git a/src/gui/window.cpp b/src/gui/window.cpp
index d674245..9de00d9 100644
--- a/src/gui/window.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/window.cpp
@@ -350,6 +350,12 @@ Gtk::Widget& EffectorWindow::buildPreview() {
 
     auto* box = Gtk::make_managed<Gtk::Box>(Gtk::Orientation::VERTICAL);
     box->append(*overlay);
+    // A long chain makes a long status line; left to its natural width it
+    // would widen the preview column past the pane and push the picture off
+    // centre. Ellipsized, it never asks for more room than it is given.
+    status_.set_ellipsize(Pango::EllipsizeMode::END);
+    status_.set_margin_start(8);
+    status_.set_margin_end(8);
     status_.set_margin_top(6);
     status_.set_margin_bottom(8);
     status_.add_css_class("dim-label");
@@ -1400,6 +1406,7 @@ void EffectorWindow::showPlaceholder() {
     placeholder_.set_text(missingText());
     previewStack_.set_visible_child("placeholder");
     status_.set_text("");
+    status_.set_tooltip_text("");
 }
 
 void EffectorWindow::requestRender() {
@@ -1505,6 +1512,7 @@ void EffectorWindow::onRenderFinished() {
     }
     status << "seed " << seed_ << " · " << millis << " ms";
     status_.set_text(status.str());
+    status_.set_tooltip_text(status.str());
 }
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------- project ---
@@ -1679,6 +1687,7 @@ void EffectorWindow::writeProject(const std::string& path) {
     projectPath_ = path;
     updateTitle();
     status_.set_text("Saved " + path);
+    status_.set_tooltip_text("Saved " + path);
 }
 
 void EffectorWindow::updateTitle() {
@@ -1722,6 +1731,7 @@ void EffectorWindow::onSaveChosen(const Glib::RefPtr<Gio::AsyncResult>& result,
     }
     clearError();
     status_.set_text("Saved " + path.string());
+    status_.set_tooltip_text("Saved " + path.string());
 }
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------- errors ---