diff --git a/src/devices/video/saa5050.cpp b/src/devices/video/saa5050.cpp
index b873edfbbb9..5dae957d699 100644
--- a/src/devices/video/saa5050.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/video/saa5050.cpp
@@ -570,6 +570,16 @@ WRITE_LINE_MEMBER( saa5050_device::lose_w )
 }
 
 
+//-------------------------------------------------
+//  tlc_r - transmitted large character
+//-------------------------------------------------
+
+READ_LINE_MEMBER( saa5050_device::tlc_r )
+{
+	return !m_double_height_bottom_row;
+}
+
+
 //-------------------------------------------------
 //  write - character data write
 //-------------------------------------------------
@@ -636,7 +646,7 @@ uint32_t saa5050_device::screen_update(screen_device &screen, bitmap_rgb32 &bitm
 		lose_w(1);
 		lose_w(0);
 
-		int ssy = m_double_height_bottom_row ? sy - 1 : sy;
+		int ssy = tlc_r() ? sy : sy - 1;
 		offs_t video_ram_addr = ssy * m_size;
 
 		for (int sx = 0; sx < m_cols; sx++)
diff --git a/src/devices/video/saa5050.h b/src/devices/video/saa5050.h
index a9bb680f347..99a0e69836f 100644
--- a/src/devices/video/saa5050.h
+++ b/src/devices/video/saa5050.h
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ public:
 	DECLARE_WRITE_LINE_MEMBER( crs_w );
 	DECLARE_WRITE_LINE_MEMBER( dew_w );
 	DECLARE_WRITE_LINE_MEMBER( lose_w );
+	DECLARE_READ_LINE_MEMBER( tlc_r );
 	void write(uint8_t data);
 	DECLARE_WRITE_LINE_MEMBER( f1_w );
 	DECLARE_WRITE_LINE_MEMBER( tr6_w );