diff --git a/src/commandModel.js b/src/commandModel.js
index 3a8255fb..fc8f02ee 100644
--- a/src/commandModel.js
+++ b/src/commandModel.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ var Command = Backbone.Model.extend({
   },
 
   validateAtInit: function() {
-    if (!this.get('rawStr')) {
+    if (this.get('rawStr') === null) {
       throw new Error('Give me a string!');
     }
     if (!this.get('createTime')) {
diff --git a/src/commandViews.js b/src/commandViews.js
index 97d39f26..d562851d 100644
--- a/src/commandViews.js
+++ b/src/commandViews.js
@@ -70,10 +70,7 @@ var CommandPromptView = Backbone.View.extend({
     _.each(value.split(';'), _.bind(function(command) {
       command = command.replace(/^(\s+)/, '');
       command = command.replace(/(\s+)$/, '');
-      console.log('the command is', command);
-      if (command.length) {
-        this.addToCollection(command);
-      }
+      this.addToCollection(command);
     }, this));
   },
 
diff --git a/src/git.js b/src/git.js
index 02486a75..1dc37702 100644
--- a/src/git.js
+++ b/src/git.js
@@ -42,7 +42,10 @@ GitEngine.prototype.init = function() {
   this.commit();
 
   // update tree
-  events.trigger('treeRefresh');
+  // TODO make async, not async
+  setTimeout(function() {
+    events.trigger('treeRefresh');
+  }, 100);
 };
 
 GitEngine.prototype.getDetachedHead = function() {
diff --git a/src/index.html b/src/index.html
index 8b1798c8..87f09e1a 100644
--- a/src/index.html
+++ b/src/index.html
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@
               Learn Git Branching
             </div>
           </div>
-        <div id="terminal" class="box flex1 vertical">
-          <div id="commandDisplay">
+        <div id="terminal" class="box flex1 horizontal">
+          <div id="commandDisplay" class="box vertical flex1">
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/src/style/main.css b/src/style/main.css
index bd8fb549..d7701d24 100644
--- a/src/style/main.css
+++ b/src/style/main.css
@@ -247,5 +247,6 @@ p.commandLine span.prompt {
   box-shadow: 0px 0px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3) inset;
   border: 1px solid #6287A4;
   border-radius: 0 0 5px 5px;
+  -webkit-box-align: start;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/tree.js b/src/tree.js
index dce80e9e..d44b2af4 100644
--- a/src/tree.js
+++ b/src/tree.js
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ var VisEdge = Backbone.Model.extend({
   genGraphics: function(paper) {
     var pathString = this.getBezierCurve();
     var path = cutePath(paper, pathString);
+    path.toBack();
     this.set('path', path);
   },