diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs
index ad4846ab0..c1452c923 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ renderComponent opts (acctname, depth, total) (FormatField ljust min max field)
                                  Just m  -> depth * m
                                  Nothing -> depth
   AccountField     -> formatString ljust min max (T.unpack acctname)
-  TotalField       -> fitStringMulti min max True False $ showMixedAmountWithoutPrice (color_ opts) total
+  TotalField       -> fst $ showMixed showAmountWithoutPrice min max (color_ opts) total
   _                -> ""
 
 -- | Render one StringFormat component for a balance report item.
@@ -425,9 +425,7 @@ renderComponent1 opts (acctname, depth, total) (FormatField ljust min max field)
                         -- better to indent the account name here rather than use a DepthField component
                         -- so that it complies with width spec. Uses a fixed indent step size.
                         indented = ((replicate (depth*2) ' ')++)
-  TotalField       -> fitStringMulti min max True False $ ((intercalate ", " . map strip . lines) (showamt total))
-    where
-      showamt = showMixedAmountWithoutPrice (color_ opts)
+  TotalField       -> fst $ showMixedOneLine showAmountWithoutPrice min max (color_ opts) total
   _                -> ""
 
 -- rendering multi-column balance reports
diff --git a/tests/balance/format.test b/tests/balance/format.test
index 6b7efc413..798363199 100644
--- a/tests/balance/format.test
+++ b/tests/balance/format.test
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-hledger -f sample.journal balance --tree --format="%30(account) %-.20(total)"
->>>
+$ hledger -f sample.journal balance --tree --format="%30(account) %-.20(total)"
+>
                         assets $-1
                    bank:saving $1
                           cash $-2
@@ -12,4 +12,23 @@ hledger -f sample.journal balance --tree --format="%30(account) %-.20(total)"
              liabilities:debts $1
 ----------------------------------
                                0
->>>= 0
+>= 0
+
+<
+2020-09-01 Test
+    a  -500 AAA
+    b
+
+# Test too-small maximum balance widths
+$ hledger -f - balance -N --format="%7.7(total) %(account)"
+>
+1 mor.. a
+500 AAA b
+>= 0
+
+# Check that maximum balance widths works with colour
+$ hledger -f - balance -N --format="%8.8(total) %(account)" --color=yes
+>
+-500 AAA a
+ 500 AAA b
+>= 0