diff --git a/src/grid.rs b/src/grid.rs
index 8dbfd0b5..7acfeaa3 100644
--- a/src/grid.rs
+++ b/src/grid.rs
@@ -145,17 +145,19 @@ impl<T> Grid<T> {
     /// better error messages by doing the bounds checking ourselves.
     #[inline]
     pub fn swap_lines(&mut self, src: index::Line, dst: index::Line) {
-        // check that src/dst are in bounds. Since index::Line newtypes usize,
-        // we can assume values are positive.
-        if src >= self.lines {
-            panic!("swap_lines src out of bounds; len={}, src={}", self.raw.len(), src);
-        }
-
-        if dst >= self.lines {
-            panic!("swap_lines dst out of bounds; len={}, dst={}", self.raw.len(), dst);
-        }
+        use std::intrinsics::unlikely;
 
         unsafe {
+            // check that src/dst are in bounds. Since index::Line newtypes usize,
+            // we can assume values are positive.
+            if unlikely(src >= self.lines) {
+                panic!("swap_lines src out of bounds; len={}, src={}", self.raw.len(), src);
+            }
+
+            if unlikely(dst >= self.lines) {
+                panic!("swap_lines dst out of bounds; len={}, dst={}", self.raw.len(), dst);
+            }
+
             let src: *mut _ = self.raw.get_unchecked_mut(src.0);
             let dst: *mut _ = self.raw.get_unchecked_mut(dst.0);
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index a803d05c..f1819b64 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #![feature(step_trait)]
 #![feature(custom_derive, plugin)]
 #![plugin(serde_macros)]
+#![feature(core_intrinsics)]
 
 extern crate cgmath;
 extern crate errno;
diff --git a/src/term.rs b/src/term.rs
index 44d0d7d6..58f60b87 100644
--- a/src/term.rs
+++ b/src/term.rs
@@ -467,8 +467,10 @@ impl ansi::Handler for Term {
             self.cursor.col = Column(0);
         }
 
-        if self.cursor.line == self.grid.num_lines() {
-            panic!("cursor fell off grid");
+        unsafe {
+            if ::std::intrinsics::unlikely(self.cursor.line == self.grid.num_lines()) {
+                panic!("cursor fell off grid");
+            }
         }
 
         let cell = &mut self.grid[&self.cursor];