diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/nwg-panel/style.css b/hosts/common/programs/nwg-panel/style.css
index 818e2eea..e700e105 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/nwg-panel/style.css
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/nwg-panel/style.css
@@ -52,10 +52,18 @@ button {
 /* fix up the top bar sections so that the clock can be centered, even without forcing it to take 1/3rd of the bar */
 /* pair with `homogenous = false` in config. on overflow, the clock may be rendered on top of the left portion of the bar */
 /* and the right portion of the bar will render on top of all */
-#left-box {
+#panel-top > box > box > box > #left-box {
+  margin-left: 0px;
   margin-right: -16384px;
 }
-#right-box {
+#panel-top > box > box > box > #center-box {
+  margin-left: 0px;
+  margin-right: 0px;
+}
+#panel-top > box > box > box > box {
+  /* this is the *parent* of #right-box, which is uniquely under an unnamed "helper box" */
+  /* i have to address this parent, because otherwise only the controls are visible and the executors (including playerctl) */
+  /* are packed in a fill mode that pushes them off the visible section of the bar */
   margin-left: -16384px;
 }