diff --git a/shared-bindings/terminalio/Terminal.c b/shared-bindings/terminalio/Terminal.c
index 570449ad424a4..ccdd588578125 100644
--- a/shared-bindings/terminalio/Terminal.c
+++ b/shared-bindings/terminalio/Terminal.c
@@ -88,8 +88,7 @@ static mp_obj_t terminalio_terminal_make_new(const mp_obj_type_t *type, size_t n
 
     fontio_builtinfont_t *font = mp_arg_validate_type(args[ARG_font].u_obj, &fontio_builtinfont_type, MP_QSTR_font);
 
-    mp_arg_validate_int_min(scroll_area->width_in_tiles, 2, MP_QSTR_scroll_area_width);
-    mp_arg_validate_int_min(scroll_area->height_in_tiles, 2, MP_QSTR_scroll_area_height);
+    mp_arg_validate_int_min(scroll_area->width_in_tiles * scroll_area->height_in_tiles, 2, MP_QSTR_scroll_area_area);
 
     terminalio_terminal_obj_t *self = mp_obj_malloc(terminalio_terminal_obj_t, &terminalio_terminal_type);