diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/branches_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/branches_controller.go
index e93eaa4ba..29864bf04 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/branches_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/branches_controller.go
@@ -210,8 +210,8 @@ func (self *BranchesController) GetOnRenderToMain() func() {
 
 				pr, ok := self.c.Helpers().Host.PullRequestForBranch(branch.Name)
 				if ok && presentation.ShouldShowPrForBranch(pr, branch.Name, self.c.UserConfig()) {
-					rendererTask.Prefix = presentation.FormatPullRequestHeader(pr, self.c.Tr)
-					rendererTask.Prefix += strings.Repeat("─", self.c.Contexts().Normal.GetView().InnerWidth()) + "\n"
+					rendererTask.Prefix = types.StaticPrefix(presentation.FormatPullRequestHeader(pr, self.c.Tr) +
+						strings.Repeat("─", self.c.Contexts().Normal.GetView().InnerWidth()) + "\n")
 				}
 			}
 
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/files_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/files_controller.go
index 1f25e7e4e..ce53ef65b 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/files_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/files_controller.go
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ func (self *FilesController) renderNonTextualConflict(node *filetree.FileNode) {
 			prefix += self.c.Tr.MergeConflictCurrentDiff
 		}
 		prefix += "\n\n"
-		self.renderToMainWithTask(types.NewRunDiffRendererTaskWithPrefix(cmdObj.GetCmd(), prefix))
+		self.renderToMainWithTask(types.NewRunDiffRendererTaskWithPrefix(cmdObj.GetCmd(), types.StaticPrefix(prefix)))
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/diff_helper.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/diff_helper.go
index dcff87bf5..a6ef3dc28 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/diff_helper.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/diff_helper.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func (self *DiffHelper) GetUpdateTaskForRenderingCommitsDiff(commit *models.Comm
 		}
 		cmdObj := self.c.Git().Diff.DiffCmdObj(args, mode)
 		prefix := style.FgYellow.Sprintf("%s %s-%s\n\n", self.c.Tr.ShowingDiffForRange, from.ShortRefName(), to.ShortRefName())
-		return types.NewMainViewDiffTaskWithPrefix(cmdObj.GetCmd(), prefix, mode)
+		return types.NewMainViewDiffTaskWithPrefix(cmdObj.GetCmd(), types.StaticPrefix(prefix), mode)
 	}
 
 	cmdObj := self.c.Git().Commit.ShowCmdObj(commit.Hash(), self.FilterPathsForCommit(commit), mode)
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ func (self *DiffHelper) RenderDiff() {
 		self.c.Tr.ShowingGitDiff,
 		"git diff "+strings.Join(args, " "),
 	)
-	task := types.NewMainViewDiffTaskWithPrefix(cmdObj.GetCmd(), prefix, git_commands.DiffModeRendered)
+	task := types.NewMainViewDiffTaskWithPrefix(cmdObj.GetCmd(), types.StaticPrefix(prefix), git_commands.DiffModeRendered)
 
 	self.c.RenderToMainViews(types.RefreshMainOpts{
 		Pair: self.c.MainViewPairs().Normal,
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/stash_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/stash_controller.go
index 4303d8851..7da678a3a 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/stash_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/stash_controller.go
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func (self *StashController) GetOnRenderToMain() func() {
 				prefix := style.FgYellow.Sprintf("%s\n\n", stashEntry.Description())
 				task = types.NewMainViewDiffTaskWithPrefix(
 					self.c.Git().Stash.ShowStashEntryCmdObj(stashEntry.Index, mode).GetCmd(),
-					prefix,
+					types.StaticPrefix(prefix),
 					mode,
 				)
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/submodules_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/submodules_controller.go
index c807e6352..5f9f8df9c 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/submodules_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/submodules_controller.go
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func (self *SubmodulesController) GetOnRenderToMain() func() {
 					task = types.NewRenderStringTask(prefix)
 				} else {
 					cmdObj := self.c.Git().WorkingTree.WorktreeFileDiffCmdObj(file, git_commands.DiffModeRendered, !file.HasUnstagedChanges && file.HasStagedChanges, file.Names())
-					task = types.NewRunCommandTaskWithPrefix(cmdObj.GetCmd(), prefix)
+					task = types.NewRunCommandTaskWithPrefix(cmdObj.GetCmd(), types.StaticPrefix(prefix))
 				}
 			}
 
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/tags_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/tags_controller.go
index 33e932013..e82264750 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/tags_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/tags_controller.go
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func (self *TagsController) GetOnRenderToMain() func() {
 			} else {
 				cmdObj := self.c.Git().Branch.GetGraphCmdObj(tag.FullRefName())
 				prefix := self.getTagInfo(tag) + "\n\n---\n\n"
-				task = types.NewRunCommandTaskWithPrefix(cmdObj.GetCmd(), prefix)
+				task = types.NewRunCommandTaskWithPrefix(cmdObj.GetCmd(), types.StaticPrefix(prefix))
 			}
 
 			self.c.RenderToMainViews(types.RefreshMainOpts{
diff --git a/pkg/gui/main_view_render.go b/pkg/gui/main_view_render.go
index 4b661bf85..04dd5120a 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/main_view_render.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/main_view_render.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/gocui"
+	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/gui/types"
 	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/tasks"
 	"github.com/samber/lo"
 )
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ type renderSpec struct {
 // newRenderTask renders cmd's output into view, through the diff renderer the
 // user has configured. The renderer lays its rendering out to the width of the
 // view, which only the layout settles, so the task is created after it.
-func (gui *Gui) newRenderTask(view *gocui.View, cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix string) error {
+func (gui *Gui) newRenderTask(view *gocui.View, cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix types.Prefix) error {
 	// Ask whatever renders the diff to state, in an OSC 1717 record per line,
 	// which line of which file it is rendering. This lets us act on the line the
 	// user is pointing at even when the rendering no longer looks like a diff.
@@ -156,14 +157,21 @@ type runRender func(spec renderSpec) (startRender, onCloseRender)
 // view, running the command the given way. The task takes the place that the
 // reservation holds among the view's tasks. key names what is rendered, so that
 // a re-render of the same content can be told from a render of other content.
-func (gui *Gui) newTaskForRender(reservation tasks.TaskReservation, spec renderSpec, prefix string, key string, run runRender) error {
+func (gui *Gui) newTaskForRender(reservation tasks.TaskReservation, spec renderSpec, prefix types.Prefix, key string, run runRender) error {
 	setColumnsEnvVar(spec.cmd, spec.width)
 
 	start, onClose := run(spec)
 
+	// The prefix is laid out here, on the UI thread, now that the width is
+	// known; its text is produced on the task's goroutine.
+	var producePrefix func() string
+	if prefix != nil {
+		producePrefix = prefix(spec.width)
+	}
+
 	manager := gui.getManager(spec.view)
 	linesToRead := gui.linesToReadFromCmdTask(spec.view)
-	return manager.NewReservedTask(reservation, manager.NewCmdTask(start, prefix, linesToRead, onClose), key)
+	return manager.NewReservedTask(reservation, manager.NewCmdTask(start, producePrefix, linesToRead, onClose), key)
 }
 
 // renderWithoutPtyEnvVar makes a render take the piped path on a platform that
diff --git a/pkg/gui/tasks_adapter.go b/pkg/gui/tasks_adapter.go
index 4c37a18ee..c2db5f1ec 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/tasks_adapter.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/tasks_adapter.go
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/gocui"
 	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers"
+	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/gui/types"
 	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/tasks"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 )
 
-func (gui *Gui) newCmdTask(view *gocui.View, cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix string) error {
+func (gui *Gui) newCmdTask(view *gocui.View, cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix types.Prefix) error {
 	cmdStr := strings.Join(cmd.Args, " ")
 	gui.c.Log.WithField(
 		"command",
diff --git a/pkg/gui/types/rendering.go b/pkg/gui/types/rendering.go
index 8be825791..7e07e4386 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/types/rendering.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/types/rendering.go
@@ -87,9 +87,32 @@ func NewRenderStringWithScrollTask(str string, originX int, originY int) *Render
 	return &RenderStringWithScrollTask{Str: str, OriginX: originX, OriginY: originY}
 }
 
+// A Prefix produces what a render of a command shows above the command's output.
+//
+// It is called with the width the render is laid out to, on the UI thread once the
+// layout has settled that width, and returns the function that produces the text.
+// That function is called on the render's own goroutine before the command starts,
+// so a prefix that takes a while to produce holds up only the render and not the UI.
+// Whatever it needs from the UI thread, it reads in the outer function.
+type Prefix func(width int) func() string
+
+// StaticPrefix is a prefix that is the same at any width.
+func StaticPrefix(text string) Prefix {
+	return PrefixForWidth(func(int) string { return text })
+}
+
+// PrefixForWidth is a prefix that is quick to lay out, so that it is produced in
+// full on the UI thread.
+func PrefixForWidth(layOut func(width int) string) Prefix {
+	return func(width int) func() string {
+		text := layOut(width)
+		return func() string { return text }
+	}
+}
+
 type RunCommandTask struct {
 	Cmd    *exec.Cmd
-	Prefix string
+	Prefix Prefix
 
 	// contentIsDiff marks output that is a panel's own diff; see ContentIsDiff.
 	contentIsDiff bool
@@ -101,13 +124,13 @@ func NewRunCommandTask(cmd *exec.Cmd) *RunCommandTask {
 	return &RunCommandTask{Cmd: cmd}
 }
 
-func NewRunCommandTaskWithPrefix(cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix string) *RunCommandTask {
+func NewRunCommandTaskWithPrefix(cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix Prefix) *RunCommandTask {
 	return &RunCommandTask{Cmd: cmd, Prefix: prefix}
 }
 
 type RunDiffRendererTask struct {
 	Cmd    *exec.Cmd
-	Prefix string
+	Prefix Prefix
 
 	// contentIsDiff marks output that is a panel's own diff; see ContentIsDiff.
 	contentIsDiff bool
@@ -119,7 +142,7 @@ func NewRunDiffRendererTask(cmd *exec.Cmd) *RunDiffRendererTask {
 	return &RunDiffRendererTask{Cmd: cmd}
 }
 
-func NewRunDiffRendererTaskWithPrefix(cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix string) *RunDiffRendererTask {
+func NewRunDiffRendererTaskWithPrefix(cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix Prefix) *RunDiffRendererTask {
 	return &RunDiffRendererTask{Cmd: cmd, Prefix: prefix}
 }
 
@@ -131,10 +154,10 @@ func NewRunDiffRendererTaskWithPrefix(cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix string) *RunDiffRend
 // The task it returns is the one that says its output is a diff, so a pane rendering
 // it can be pointed at (see ContentIsDiff).
 func NewMainViewDiffTask(cmd *exec.Cmd, mode git_commands.DiffMode) UpdateTask {
-	return NewMainViewDiffTaskWithPrefix(cmd, "", mode)
+	return NewMainViewDiffTaskWithPrefix(cmd, nil, mode)
 }
 
-func NewMainViewDiffTaskWithPrefix(cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix string, mode git_commands.DiffMode) UpdateTask {
+func NewMainViewDiffTaskWithPrefix(cmd *exec.Cmd, prefix Prefix, mode git_commands.DiffMode) UpdateTask {
 	if mode == git_commands.DiffModeRaw {
 		task := NewRunCommandTaskWithPrefix(cmd, prefix)
 		task.contentIsDiff = true
diff --git a/pkg/tasks/tasks.go b/pkg/tasks/tasks.go
index 307b64834..510fffa49 100644
--- a/pkg/tasks/tasks.go
+++ b/pkg/tasks/tasks.go
@@ -421,7 +421,11 @@ func (self *ViewBufferManager) stopServingReadRequests() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (self *ViewBufferManager) NewCmdTask(start func() (Cmd, io.Reader), prefix string, linesToRead LinesToRead, onDoneFn func()) func(TaskOpts) error {
+// NewCmdTask returns a task that renders the output of the command that start
+// starts. prefix, unless nil, produces the text shown above that output. It is
+// called on the task's goroutine before the command starts, so a prefix that
+// takes a while to produce holds up only this task.
+func (self *ViewBufferManager) NewCmdTask(start func() (Cmd, io.Reader), prefix func() string, linesToRead LinesToRead, onDoneFn func()) func(TaskOpts) error {
 	return func(opts TaskOpts) error {
 		var onDoneOnce sync.Once
 		var onFirstPageShownOnce sync.Once
@@ -462,6 +466,18 @@ func (self *ViewBufferManager) NewCmdTask(start func() (Cmd, io.Reader), prefix
 			return nil
 		}
 
+		prefixText := ""
+		if prefix != nil {
+			prefixText = prefix()
+
+			// A task stopped while it was producing its prefix has no use for the
+			// command's output any more.
+			if stopped() {
+				onDone()
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		startTime := time.Now()
 		cmd, r := start()
 		timeToStart := time.Since(startTime)
@@ -683,8 +699,8 @@ func (self *ViewBufferManager) NewCmdTask(start func() (Cmd, io.Reader), prefix
 							// displayed until we swap in below; this is what keeps an async
 							// re-render from showing a half-loaded buffer.
 							self.beginRender()
-							if prefix != "" {
-								writeToView([]byte(prefix))
+							if prefixText != "" {
+								writeToView([]byte(prefixText))
 							}
 							loaded = true
 						}
diff --git a/pkg/tasks/tasks_test.go b/pkg/tasks/tasks_test.go
index f1bd5920d..a5b195a9c 100644
--- a/pkg/tasks/tasks_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tasks/tasks_test.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func TestNewCmdTaskInstantStop(t *testing.T) {
 		return ExecCmd{Cmd: cmd}, reader
 	}
 
-	fn := manager.NewCmdTask(start, "prefix\n", LinesToRead{20, -1, nil}, onDone)
+	fn := manager.NewCmdTask(start, func() string { return "prefix\n" }, LinesToRead{20, -1, nil}, onDone)
 
 	_ = fn(TaskOpts{Stop: stop, InitialContentLoaded: func() { task.Done() }})
 
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ func TestNewCmdTask(t *testing.T) {
 		return ExecCmd{Cmd: cmd}, reader
 	}
 
-	fn := manager.NewCmdTask(start, "prefix\n", LinesToRead{20, -1, nil}, onDone)
+	fn := manager.NewCmdTask(start, func() string { return "prefix\n" }, LinesToRead{20, -1, nil}, onDone)
 	wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
 	wg.Go(func() {
 		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
@@ -171,6 +171,39 @@ func TestNewCmdTask(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// A prefix is produced before the command starts, so a task stopped while it
+// produces its prefix never gets as far as starting the command.
+func TestNewCmdTaskStoppedWhileProducingItsPrefix(t *testing.T) {
+	noop := func() {}
+	task := gocui.NewFakeTask()
+	writer := bytes.NewBuffer(nil)
+
+	manager := NewViewBufferManager(
+		utils.NewDummyLog(), writer, noop, noop, noop, noop, noop, noop,
+		func() gocui.Task { return task },
+		func(f func()) error { f(); return nil },
+	)
+
+	stop := make(chan struct{})
+	started := false
+	start := func() (Cmd, io.Reader) {
+		started = true
+		return ExecCmd{Cmd: exec.Command("true")}, bytes.NewBufferString("output")
+	}
+	prefix := func() string {
+		close(stop)
+		return "prefix\n"
+	}
+	onDone, getOnDoneCallCount := getCounter()
+
+	fn := manager.NewCmdTask(start, prefix, LinesToRead{20, -1, nil}, onDone)
+	_ = fn(TaskOpts{Stop: stop, InitialContentLoaded: func() { task.Done() }})
+
+	assert.False(t, started)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, getOnDoneCallCount())
+	assert.Empty(t, writer.String())
+}
+
 // A dummy reader that simply yields as many blank lines as requested. The only
 // thing we want to do with the output is count the number of lines.
 type BlankLineReader struct {
@@ -244,7 +277,7 @@ func TestNewCmdTaskQueuedReadAtEndOfInput(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// The initial request asks for far more lines than the reader has, so the
 	// task reaches EOF while that request is still the one being served.
-	fn := manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", LinesToRead{100, -1, nil}, func() {})
+	fn := manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, LinesToRead{100, -1, nil}, func() {})
 
 	thenCalled := false
 	wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
@@ -293,7 +326,7 @@ func TestResetOriginSurvivesTaskReplacement(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		// The first-paint point is far beyond what any of these readers yield, so
 		// only reaching EOF paints.
-		_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, onDone), key)
+		_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, onDone), key)
 	}
 	runTaskToCompletion := func(key string) {
 		done := make(chan struct{})
@@ -348,7 +381,7 @@ func TestLoadingIndicatorOnlyTakesOverForNewContent(t *testing.T) {
 			// not actually starting this because it's not necessary
 			return ExecCmd{Cmd: exec.Command("blah")}, reader
 		}
-		_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, onDone), key)
+		_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, onDone), key)
 	}
 	// Starts a task whose command produces nothing at all, so that it is still
 	// waiting for its first line when the loading indicator falls due. Returns
@@ -434,7 +467,7 @@ func TestNewCmdTaskRestore(t *testing.T) {
 		// not actually starting this because it's not necessary
 		return ExecCmd{Cmd: exec.Command("blah")}, &BlankLineReader{totalLinesToYield: 50}
 	}
-	_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", LinesToRead{100, 30, nil}, func() { close(done) }), "cmd")
+	_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, LinesToRead{100, 30, nil}, func() { close(done) }), "cmd")
 	<-done
 
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, applyCount, "Apply should run exactly once")
@@ -487,7 +520,7 @@ func TestNewCmdTaskRestoreThatFindsNothing(t *testing.T) {
 		// not actually starting this because it's not necessary
 		return ExecCmd{Cmd: exec.Command("blah")}, &BlankLineReader{totalLinesToYield: 50}
 	}
-	_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", LinesToRead{100, 30, nil}, func() { close(done) }), "cmd")
+	_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, LinesToRead{100, 30, nil}, func() { close(done) }), "cmd")
 	<-done
 
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, applyCount, "Apply should still run, to swap the render in")
@@ -529,7 +562,7 @@ func TestRestoreSurvivesTaskReplacement(t *testing.T) {
 			// not actually starting this because it's not necessary
 			return ExecCmd{Cmd: exec.Command("blah")}, reader
 		}
-		_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, onDone), "cmd")
+		_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, onDone), "cmd")
 	}
 
 	// The task the restore was installed for stalls before it can paint.
@@ -576,7 +609,7 @@ func TestKeepScrollPositionForNextTask(t *testing.T) {
 			// not actually starting this because it's not necessary
 			return ExecCmd{Cmd: exec.Command("blah")}, reader
 		}
-		_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, onDone), key)
+		_ = manager.NewTask(manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, onDone), key)
 	}
 	runTaskToCompletion := func(key string) {
 		done := make(chan struct{})
@@ -637,7 +670,7 @@ func TestForgetRenderedContent(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		done := make(chan struct{})
 		_ = manager.NewTask(
-			manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, func() { close(done) }), key)
+			manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, func() { close(done) }), key)
 		<-done
 	}
 
@@ -736,7 +769,7 @@ func TestNewCmdTaskRefresh(t *testing.T) {
 			return ExecCmd{Cmd: cmd}, &reader
 		}
 
-		fn := manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", s.linesToRead, func() {})
+		fn := manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, s.linesToRead, func() {})
 		wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
 		wg.Go(func() {
 			time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
@@ -773,7 +806,7 @@ func TestQueuedReadRequestsAreAnsweredWhenTheTaskStops(t *testing.T) {
 	stop := make(chan struct{})
 	fn := manager.NewCmdTask(
 		func() (Cmd, io.Reader) { return ExecCmd{Cmd: exec.Command("true")}, pipeReader },
-		"", LinesToRead{Total: 1, InitialRefreshAfter: -1}, noop)
+		nil, LinesToRead{Total: 1, InitialRefreshAfter: -1}, noop)
 	go func() { _, _ = pipeWriter.Write([]byte("first line\n")) }()
 	go func() { _ = fn(TaskOpts{Stop: stop, InitialContentLoaded: noop}) }()
 	// Let the task start and read the line it was asked for, so that the requests
@@ -901,7 +934,7 @@ func TestMessageEndsTheLoadingOfTheTaskItReplaces(t *testing.T) {
 
 	reservation := manager.ReserveTask()
 	manager.StartLoading()
-	_ = manager.NewReservedTask(reservation, manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, nil), "cmd")
+	_ = manager.NewReservedTask(reservation, manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, nil), "cmd")
 	<-stalled.blocked
 	assert.True(t, manager.IsLoading())
 
@@ -940,7 +973,7 @@ func TestEarlierTaskEndingLeavesALaterTaskLoading(t *testing.T) {
 	reservation := manager.ReserveTask()
 	manager.StartLoading()
 	_ = manager.NewReservedTask(reservation,
-		manager.NewCmdTask(start, "", LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, func() { close(earlierDone) }), "earlier")
+		manager.NewCmdTask(start, nil, LinesToRead{100, 50, nil}, func() { close(earlierDone) }), "earlier")
 	<-stalled.blocked
 
 	// The later task is asked for, but not created yet, as for a render whose task