diff --git a/src/devices/video/i8275.cpp b/src/devices/video/i8275.cpp
index 96484294ece..cd035f8fa54 100644
--- a/src/devices/video/i8275.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/video/i8275.cpp
@@ -329,7 +329,8 @@ void i8275_device::device_timer(emu_timer &timer, device_timer_id id, int param,
 		if ((m_status & ST_VE) && m_scanline < m_vrtc_scanline)
 		{
 			int line_counter = OFFSET_LINE_COUNTER ? ((lc - 1) % SCANLINES_PER_ROW) : lc;
-			bool end_of_row = (UNDERLINE >= 8) && ((lc == 0) || (lc == SCANLINES_PER_ROW - 1));
+			bool end_of_row = false;
+			bool blank_row = (UNDERLINE >= 8) && ((lc == 0) || (lc == SCANLINES_PER_ROW - 1));
 			int fifo_idx = 0;
 			m_hlgt = (m_stored_attr & FAC_H) ? 1 : 0;
 			m_vsp = (m_stored_attr & FAC_B) ? 1 : 0;
@@ -443,7 +444,7 @@ void i8275_device::device_timer(emu_timer &timer, device_timer_id id, int param,
 					}
 				}
 
-				if (end_of_row || m_end_of_screen)
+				if (blank_row || end_of_row || m_end_of_screen)
 				{
 					vsp = 1;
 				}
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/apogee.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/apogee.cpp
index 44b8bd4b2fb..d602192eb47 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/apogee.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/apogee.cpp
@@ -179,8 +179,6 @@ I8275_DRAW_CHARACTER_MEMBER(apogee_state::display_pixels)
 	const rgb_t *palette = m_palette->palette()->entry_list_raw();
 	const uint8_t *charmap = m_charmap + (gpa & 1) * 0x400;
 	uint8_t pixels = charmap[(linecount & 7) + (charcode << 3)] ^ 0xff;
-	if(linecount == 8)
-		pixels = 0;
 	if (vsp) {
 		pixels = 0;
 	}
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/imds2.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/imds2.cpp
index 91d1cd56c35..87ab54fea92 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/imds2.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/imds2.cpp
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ I8275_DRAW_CHARACTER_MEMBER(imds2_state::crtc_display_pixels)
 	if (lten) {
 		pixels = ~0;
 	} else if (vsp != 0 || (linecount & 8) != 0) {
-		pixels = 0;
+		pixels = 0; // VSP is gated with LC3
 	} else {
 		// See [2], pg 58 for the very peculiar way of generating character images
 		// Here each half-pixel is translated into a full pixel
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/mikrosha.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/mikrosha.cpp
index 2b578241d3c..a8ffef44475 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/mikrosha.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/mikrosha.cpp
@@ -171,8 +171,6 @@ I8275_DRAW_CHARACTER_MEMBER(mikrosha_state::display_pixels)
 	const rgb_t *palette = m_palette->palette()->entry_list_raw();
 	const uint8_t *charmap = m_charmap + (m_mikrosha_font_page & 1) * 0x400;
 	uint8_t pixels = charmap[(linecount & 7) + (charcode << 3)] ^ 0xff;
-	if(linecount == 8)
-		pixels = 0;
 	if (vsp) {
 		pixels = 0;
 	}
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/unior.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/unior.cpp
index 6ac1a62d3ac..aaedeb1cfd4 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/unior.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/unior.cpp
@@ -266,9 +266,6 @@ I8275_DRAW_CHARACTER_MEMBER(unior_state::display_pixels)
 	const rgb_t *palette = m_palette->palette()->entry_list_raw();
 	uint8_t gfx = m_p_chargen[(linecount & 7) | (charcode << 3)];
 
-	if(linecount == 8)
-		gfx = 0;
-
 	if (vsp)
 		gfx = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/mame/machine/radio86.cpp b/src/mame/machine/radio86.cpp
index 2cfbd396880..da181dac71d 100644
--- a/src/mame/machine/radio86.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/machine/radio86.cpp
@@ -202,8 +202,6 @@ I8275_DRAW_CHARACTER_MEMBER(radio86_state::display_pixels)
 	const rgb_t *palette = m_palette->palette()->entry_list_raw();
 	const uint8_t *charmap = m_charmap;
 	uint8_t pixels = charmap[(linecount & 7) + (charcode << 3)] ^ 0xff;
-	if(linecount == 8)
-		pixels = 0;
 	if (vsp) {
 		pixels = 0;
 	}