diff --git a/views/view_constrain.go b/views/view_constrain.go
index a647869..40d3125 100644
--- a/views/view_constrain.go
+++ b/views/view_constrain.go
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ func (v *ConstrainView) Constrain(maxWidth, maxHeight int) {
 }
 
 func (v *ConstrainView) Layout() (prefWidth, prefHeight int) {
+	if v.View() == nil {
+		return v.MaxWidth, v.MaxHeight
+	}
+
 	vw, vh := v.View().Layout()
-	return min(vw, v.MaxWidth), min(vh, v.MaxHeight)
+	prefWidth = iff(vw >= 0, min(vw, v.MaxWidth), v.MaxWidth)
+	prefHeight = iff(vh >= 0, min(vh, v.MaxHeight), v.MaxHeight)
+	return
 }