diff --git a/gtm b/gtm
index 9898520..6aa4b5a 100755
--- a/gtm
+++ b/gtm
@@ -961,6 +961,11 @@ def draw_commit_details(stdscr, state: AppState, layout: StatusBarLayout):
     # Calculate positions
     right_x = layout.screen_width - len(author_branch_info)
     
+    # Calculate the message area boundaries
+    message_start_x = len(commit_info)
+    message_end_x = right_x - 1
+    message_width = message_end_x - message_start_x - 2  # -2 for the pipe characters
+    
     # Always draw the author/branch info (it should fit now)
     if right_x >= len(commit_info):
         try:
@@ -968,16 +973,27 @@ def draw_commit_details(stdscr, state: AppState, layout: StatusBarLayout):
         except curses.error:
             pass
         
+        # Draw left pipe character for message area
+        try:
+            stdscr.addstr(second_line, message_start_x, "|", curses.A_REVERSE)
+        except curses.error:
+            pass
+            
         # Draw the commit message in the remaining space
-        available_width = right_x - len(commit_info) - 1
         first_line = message_lines[0] if message_lines else ""
-        if available_width > 0:
-            if len(first_line) > available_width:
-                first_line = first_line[:available_width-3] + "..."
+        if message_width > 0:
+            if len(first_line) > message_width:
+                first_line = first_line[:message_width-3] + "..."
             try:
-                stdscr.addstr(second_line, len(commit_info), first_line, curses.A_REVERSE)
+                stdscr.addstr(second_line, message_start_x + 1, first_line, curses.A_REVERSE)
             except curses.error:
                 pass  # Silently fail if we can't draw the message
+                
+        # Draw right pipe character for message area
+        try:
+            stdscr.addstr(second_line, message_end_x, "|", curses.A_REVERSE)
+        except curses.error:
+            pass
     
     # Draw additional lines of the commit message if we have more space
     for i, line in enumerate(message_lines[1:], 1):
@@ -985,12 +1001,25 @@ def draw_commit_details(stdscr, state: AppState, layout: StatusBarLayout):
         if line_y >= layout.start_y + layout.total_height:
             break  # No more space
         
-        # For continuation lines, indent them
-        line_available_width = layout.screen_width - 4  # Leave some margin
-        if len(line) > line_available_width:
-            line = line[:line_available_width-3] + "..."
-        
-        stdscr.addstr(line_y, 4, line, curses.A_REVERSE)
+        # For continuation lines, align them with the first line of the message
+        # and add pipe characters on both sides
+        try:
+            stdscr.addstr(line_y, message_start_x, "|", curses.A_REVERSE)
+        except curses.error:
+            pass
+            
+        if message_width > 0:
+            if len(line) > message_width:
+                line = line[:message_width-3] + "..."
+            try:
+                stdscr.addstr(line_y, message_start_x + 1, line, curses.A_REVERSE)
+            except curses.error:
+                pass
+                
+        try:
+            stdscr.addstr(line_y, message_end_x, "|", curses.A_REVERSE)
+        except curses.error:
+            pass
 
 def draw_search_mode(stdscr, state: AppState, layout: StatusBarLayout):
     """Draw search input interface"""