diff --git a/src/mathed/MathData.cpp b/src/mathed/MathData.cpp
index 059b8b56b7..4bf7059a84 100644
--- a/src/mathed/MathData.cpp
+++ b/src/mathed/MathData.cpp
@@ -264,6 +264,13 @@ bool isInside(DocIterator const & it, MathData const & ar,
 #endif
 
 
+bool MathData::hasCaret(BufferView * bv) const
+{
+	Cursor & cur = bv->cursor();
+	return cur.inMathed() && &cur.cell() == this;
+}
+
+
 void MathData::metrics(MetricsInfo & mi, Dimension & dim, bool tight) const
 {
 	frontend::FontMetrics const & fm = theFontMetrics(mi.base.font);
@@ -278,7 +285,7 @@ void MathData::metrics(MetricsInfo & mi, Dimension & dim, bool tight) const
 	sshift_ = xascent / 4;
 
 	MathRow mrow(mi, this);
-	mrow.metrics(mi, dim);
+	bool has_caret = mrow.metrics(mi, dim);
 	mrow_cache_[bv] = mrow;
 	kerning_ = mrow.kerning(bv);
 
@@ -294,8 +301,8 @@ void MathData::metrics(MetricsInfo & mi, Dimension & dim, bool tight) const
 
 	// This is one of the the few points where the drawing font is known,
 	// so that we can set the caret vertical dimensions.
-	Cursor & cur = bv->cursor();
-	if (cur.inMathed() && &cur.cell() == this)
+	has_caret |= hasCaret(bv);
+	if (has_caret)
 		bv->setCaretAscentDescent(min(dim.asc, fm.maxAscent()),
 		                          min(dim.des, fm.maxDescent()));
 
diff --git a/src/mathed/MathData.h b/src/mathed/MathData.h
index 93b0f1559a..1b9d8edcbc 100644
--- a/src/mathed/MathData.h
+++ b/src/mathed/MathData.h
@@ -124,6 +124,9 @@ public:
 	/// Add this array to a math row. Return true if contents got added
 	bool addToMathRow(MathRow &, MetricsInfo & mi) const;
 
+	// return true if caret is in this cell in this buffer view
+	bool hasCaret(BufferView * bv) const;
+
 	/// rebuild cached metrics information
 	/** When \c tight is true, the height of the cell will be at least
 	 *  that of 'x'. Otherwise, it will be the max height of the font.
diff --git a/src/mathed/MathRow.cpp b/src/mathed/MathRow.cpp
index 9163149694..c2b1a00a43 100644
--- a/src/mathed/MathRow.cpp
+++ b/src/mathed/MathRow.cpp
@@ -234,8 +234,10 @@ int MathRow::after(int i) const
 }
 
 
-void MathRow::metrics(MetricsInfo & mi, Dimension & dim)
+bool MathRow::metrics(MetricsInfo & mi, Dimension & dim)
 {
+	bool has_caret = false;
+
 	dim.wid = 0;
 	// In order to compute the dimension of macros and their
 	// arguments, it is necessary to keep track of them.
@@ -260,8 +262,10 @@ void MathRow::metrics(MetricsInfo & mi, Dimension & dim)
 				d.wid = e.before + e.after;
 				e.inset->beforeMetrics();
 			}
-			if (e.ar)
+			if (e.ar) {
 				dim_arrays.push_back(make_pair(e.ar, Dimension()));
+				has_caret |= e.ar->hasCaret(mi.base.bv);
+			}
 			break;
 		case END:
 			if (e.inset) {
@@ -310,6 +314,7 @@ void MathRow::metrics(MetricsInfo & mi, Dimension & dim)
 		dim.wid += mathed_string_width(font, e.compl_text);
 	}
 	LATTEST(dim_insets.empty() && dim_arrays.empty());
+	return has_caret;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/mathed/MathRow.h b/src/mathed/MathRow.h
index de63ec965f..cb4c8614cd 100644
--- a/src/mathed/MathRow.h
+++ b/src/mathed/MathRow.h
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ public:
 	// compute the spacings.
 	MathRow(MetricsInfo & mi, MathData const * ar);
 
-	//
-	void metrics(MetricsInfo & mi, Dimension & dim);
+	// this returns true if the caret is here
+	bool metrics(MetricsInfo & mi, Dimension & dim);
 	//
 	void draw(PainterInfo & pi, int const x, int const y) const;