diff --git a/src/nsterm.m b/src/nsterm.m
index a6160ed5b2a..8da2ffe5b7f 100644
--- a/src/nsterm.m
+++ b/src/nsterm.m
@@ -2861,7 +2861,10 @@ Note that CURSOR_WIDTH is meaningful only for (h)bar cursors.
     {
       if (cursor_width < 1)
 	cursor_width = max (FRAME_CURSOR_WIDTH (f), 1);
-      w->phys_cursor_width = cursor_width;
+
+      /* The bar cursor should never be wider than the glyph. */
+      if (cursor_width < w->phys_cursor_width)
+        w->phys_cursor_width = cursor_width;
     }
   /* If we have an HBAR, "cursor_width" MAY specify height. */
   else if (cursor_type == HBAR_CURSOR)