diff --git a/navbar.template b/navbar.template
index 67656e1..fe104c4 100644
--- a/navbar.template
+++ b/navbar.template
@@ -74,3 +74,4 @@ if (!isset($login)){
     }
   ?>
 </ul>
+<div class="topnav"></div>
diff --git a/threadr/style.css b/threadr/style.css
index 9698b8e..f48750a 100644
--- a/threadr/style.css
+++ b/threadr/style.css
@@ -281,6 +281,11 @@ ul.topnav li a.icon {
   padding: 5.4px 9px;
 }
 
+/* invisible spacer under nav bar */
+div.topnav {
+  height: 3em;
+}
+
 ul.list {
   list-style-type: none;
   margin: 0;