diff --git a/doc/virt-column.txt b/doc/virt-column.txt
index 131fedc..8ba4a3e 100644
--- a/doc/virt-column.txt
+++ b/doc/virt-column.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 
 Author: Lukas Reineke <lukas.reineke@protonmail.com>
-Version: 1.5.2
+Version: 1.5.3
 
 ==============================================================================
 CONTENTS                                                    *virt-column.nvim*
@@ -88,6 +88,9 @@ virtcolumn                                            *virt-column-virtcolumn*
 ==============================================================================
  4. CHANGELOG                                          *virt-column-changelog*
 
+1.5.3
+  * ignore `+N` `-N` columns when |textwidth| is 0
+
 1.5.2
   * use `default` for |:highlight-link|
 
diff --git a/lua/virt-column/init.lua b/lua/virt-column/init.lua
index c7e4707..d610e2d 100644
--- a/lua/virt-column/init.lua
+++ b/lua/virt-column/init.lua
@@ -56,9 +56,17 @@ M.refresh = function()
 
     for i, c in ipairs(colorcolumn) do
         if vim.startswith(c, "+") then
-            colorcolumn[i] = textwidth + tonumber(c:sub(2))
+            if textwidth ~= 0 then
+                colorcolumn[i] = textwidth + tonumber(c:sub(2))
+            else
+                colorcolumn[i] = nil
+            end
         elseif vim.startswith(c, "-") then
-            colorcolumn[i] = textwidth - tonumber(c:sub(2))
+            if textwidth ~= 0 then
+                colorcolumn[i] = textwidth - tonumber(c:sub(2))
+            else
+                colorcolumn[i] = nil
+            end
         else
             colorcolumn[i] = tonumber(c)
         end