diff --git a/src/nvim/message.c b/src/nvim/message.c
index 4fafbd5e0a..86c185dbc2 100644
--- a/src/nvim/message.c
+++ b/src/nvim/message.c
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ static const char *msg_ext_kind = NULL;
 static Array msg_ext_chunks = ARRAY_DICT_INIT;
 static garray_T msg_ext_last_chunk = GA_INIT(sizeof(char), 40);
 static sattr_T msg_ext_last_attr = -1;
+static size_t msg_ext_cur_len = 0;
 
 static bool msg_ext_overwrite = false;  ///< will overwrite last message
 static int msg_ext_visible = 0;  ///< number of messages currently visible
@@ -1877,8 +1878,9 @@ static void msg_puts_display(const char_u *str, int maxlen, int attr,
       msg_ext_last_attr = attr;
     }
     // Concat pieces with the same highlight
-    ga_concat_len(&msg_ext_last_chunk, (char *)str,
-                  strnlen((char *)str, maxlen));  // -V781
+    size_t len = strnlen((char *)str, maxlen);
+    ga_concat_len(&msg_ext_last_chunk, (char *)str, len);  // -V781
+    msg_ext_cur_len += len;
     return;
   }
 
@@ -2770,6 +2772,7 @@ void msg_ext_ui_flush(void)
     }
     msg_ext_kind = NULL;
     msg_ext_chunks = (Array)ARRAY_DICT_INIT;
+    msg_ext_cur_len = 0;
     msg_ext_overwrite = false;
   }
 }
@@ -2782,6 +2785,7 @@ void msg_ext_flush_showmode(void)
     msg_ext_emit_chunk();
     ui_call_msg_showmode(msg_ext_chunks);
     msg_ext_chunks = (Array)ARRAY_DICT_INIT;
+    msg_ext_cur_len = 0;
   }
 }
 
@@ -3048,6 +3052,14 @@ void msg_advance(int col)
     msg_col = col;              /* for redirection, may fill it up later */
     return;
   }
+  if (ui_has(kUIMessages)) {
+    // TODO(bfredl): use byte count as a basic proxy.
+    // later on we might add proper support for formatted messages.
+    while (msg_ext_cur_len < (size_t)col) {
+      msg_putchar(' ');
+    }
+    return;
+  }
   if (col >= Columns)           /* not enough room */
     col = Columns - 1;
   if (cmdmsg_rl)
diff --git a/test/functional/ui/messages_spec.lua b/test/functional/ui/messages_spec.lua
index 16e1619a3a..e6df9885ef 100644
--- a/test/functional/ui/messages_spec.lua
+++ b/test/functional/ui/messages_spec.lua
@@ -332,6 +332,22 @@ describe('ui/ext_messages', function()
     }}
   end)
 
+  it("doesn't crash with column adjustment #10069", function()
+    feed(':let [x,y] = [1,2]<cr>')
+    feed(':let x y<cr>')
+    screen:expect{grid=[[
+      ^                         |
+      {1:~                        }|
+      {1:~                        }|
+      {1:~                        }|
+      {1:~                        }|
+    ]], messages={
+      {content = {{ "x                     #1" }}, kind = ""},
+      {content = {{ "y                     #2" }}, kind = ""},
+      {content = {{ "Press ENTER or type command to continue", 4 }}, kind = "return_prompt"}
+    }}
+  end)
+
   it('&showmode', function()
     command('imap <f2> <cmd>echomsg "stuff"<cr>')
     feed('i')