diff --git a/pkg/tui/shared/shared.go b/pkg/tui/shared/shared.go
index 55338cd..d757d9d 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/shared/shared.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/shared/shared.go
@@ -9,15 +9,12 @@ import (
 type ViewModel interface {
 	Init() tea.Cmd
 	Update(tea.Msg) (ViewModel, tea.Cmd)
-	View() string
-	Initialized() bool // Return whether this view is initialized
-}
 
-type ViewState struct {
-	Initialized bool
-	Width  int
-	Height int
-	Err    error
+	// View methods
+	Header(width int) string
+	// Render the view's main content into a container of the given dimensions
+	Content(width, height int) string
+	Footer(width int) string
 }
 
 type View int
@@ -29,22 +26,12 @@ const (
 	//StateHelp
 )
 
-// a convenience struct for holding rendered content for indiviudal UI
-// elements
-type Sections struct {
-	Header  string
-	Content string
-	Error   string
-	Input   string
-	Footer  string
-}
-
 type (
 	// send to change the current state
 	MsgViewChange View
 	// sent to a state when it is entered
 	MsgViewEnter struct{}
-	// sent when an error occurs
+	// sent when a recoverable error occurs (displayed to user)
 	MsgError error
 	// sent when the view has handled a key input
 	MsgKeyHandled tea.KeyMsg
diff --git a/pkg/tui/tui.go b/pkg/tui/tui.go
index 9384b3e..16c4c6c 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/tui.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/tui.go
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ import (
 	"git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/lmcli"
 	"git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/tui/model"
 	"git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/tui/shared"
+	tuiutil "git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/tui/util"
 	"git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/tui/views/chat"
 	"git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/tui/views/conversations"
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/lipgloss"
 )
 
 type LaunchOptions struct {
@@ -20,13 +22,18 @@ type LaunchOptions struct {
 type Model struct {
 	App *model.AppModel
 
+	// window size
+	width  int
+	height int
+
+	// errors we will display to the user and allow them to dismiss
+	errs []error
+
 	activeView shared.View
 	views      map[shared.View]shared.ViewModel
 }
 
-func initialModel(ctx *lmcli.Context, opts LaunchOptions) Model {
-	sharedData := shared.ViewState{}
-
+func initialModel(ctx *lmcli.Context, opts LaunchOptions) *Model {
 	app := &model.AppModel{
 		Ctx:          ctx,
 		Conversation: opts.InitialConversation,
@@ -36,20 +43,24 @@ func initialModel(ctx *lmcli.Context, opts LaunchOptions) Model {
 		App:        app,
 		activeView: opts.InitialView,
 		views: map[shared.View]shared.ViewModel{
-			shared.ViewChat:          chat.Chat(app, sharedData),
-			shared.ViewConversations: conversations.Conversations(app, sharedData),
+			shared.ViewChat:          chat.Chat(app),
+			shared.ViewConversations: conversations.Conversations(app),
 		},
 	}
 
-	return m
+	return &m
 }
 
-func (m Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
-	return tea.Batch(
+func (m *Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
+	cmds := []tea.Cmd{
 		func() tea.Msg {
 			return shared.MsgViewChange(m.activeView)
 		},
-	)
+	}
+	for _, v := range m.views {
+		cmds = append(cmds, v.Init())
+	}
+	return tea.Batch(cmds...)
 }
 
 func (m *Model) handleGlobalInput(msg tea.KeyMsg) tea.Cmd {
@@ -66,8 +77,10 @@ func (m *Model) handleGlobalInput(msg tea.KeyMsg) tea.Cmd {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	switch msg := msg.(type) {
+	case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
+		m.width, m.height = msg.Width, msg.Height
 	case tea.KeyMsg:
 		cmd := m.handleGlobalInput(msg)
 		if cmd != nil {
@@ -75,15 +88,9 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 	case shared.MsgViewChange:
 		m.activeView = shared.View(msg)
-		view := m.views[m.activeView]
-
-		var cmds []tea.Cmd
-		if !view.Initialized() {
-			cmds = append(cmds, view.Init())
-		}
-		cmds = append(cmds, tea.WindowSize(), shared.ViewEnter())
-
-		return m, tea.Batch(cmds...)
+		return m, tea.Batch(tea.WindowSize(), shared.ViewEnter())
+	case shared.MsgError:
+		m.errs = append(m.errs, msg)
 	}
 
 	view, cmd := m.views[m.activeView].Update(msg)
@@ -91,8 +98,38 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	return m, cmd
 }
 
-func (m Model) View() string {
-	return m.views[m.activeView].View()
+func (m *Model) View() string {
+	if m.width == 0 || m.height == 0 {
+		// we're dimensionless!
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	header := m.views[m.activeView].Header(m.width)
+	footer := m.views[m.activeView].Footer(m.width)
+	fixedUIHeight := tuiutil.Height(header) + tuiutil.Height(footer)
+
+	errBanners := make([]string, len(m.errs))
+	for idx, err := range m.errs {
+		errBanners[idx] = tuiutil.ErrorBanner(err, m.width)
+		fixedUIHeight += tuiutil.Height(errBanners[idx])
+	}
+
+	content := m.views[m.activeView].Content(m.width, m.height-fixedUIHeight)
+
+	sections := make([]string, 0, 4)
+	if header != "" {
+		sections = append(sections, header)
+	}
+	if content != "" {
+		sections = append(sections, content)
+	}
+	if len(errBanners) > 0 {
+		sections = append(sections, lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left, errBanners...))
+	}
+	if footer != "" {
+		sections = append(sections, footer)
+	}
+	return lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left, sections...)
 }
 
 type LaunchOption func(*LaunchOptions)
diff --git a/pkg/tui/views/chat/chat.go b/pkg/tui/views/chat/chat.go
index 2465c4f..980289d 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/views/chat/chat.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/views/chat/chat.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 
 	"git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/api"
 	"git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/tui/model"
-	"git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/tui/shared"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/cursor"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/spinner"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/textarea"
@@ -72,11 +71,10 @@ const (
 )
 
 type Model struct {
-	*shared.ViewState
-	shared.Sections
-
 	// App state
 	App		*model.AppModel
+	Height int
+	Width int
 
 	// Chat view state
 	state           state // current overall status of the view
@@ -106,14 +104,9 @@ type Model struct {
 	elapsed    time.Duration
 }
 
-func (m Model) Initialized() bool {
-	return m.ViewState.Initialized
-}
-
-func Chat(app *model.AppModel, shared shared.ViewState) shared.ViewModel {
+func Chat(app *model.AppModel) *Model {
 	m := Model{
 		App: app,
-		ViewState: &shared,
 
 		state:        idle,
 		persistence:  true,
@@ -166,12 +159,10 @@ func Chat(app *model.AppModel, shared shared.ViewState) shared.ViewModel {
 	m.input.FocusedStyle.CursorLine = lipgloss.NewStyle()
 	m.input.FocusedStyle.Base = inputFocusedStyle
 	m.input.BlurredStyle.Base = inputBlurredStyle
-
-	return m
+	return &m
 }
 
-func (m Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
-	m.ViewState.Initialized = true
+func (m *Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
 	return tea.Batch(
 		m.waitForResponseChunk(),
 	)
diff --git a/pkg/tui/views/chat/update.go b/pkg/tui/views/chat/update.go
index fb87285..abacaf3 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/views/chat/update.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/views/chat/update.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func (m *Model) updateContent() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (shared.ViewModel, tea.Cmd) {
+func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (shared.ViewModel, tea.Cmd) {
 	inputHandled := false
 
 	var cmds []tea.Cmd
@@ -169,8 +169,8 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (shared.ViewModel, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.updateContent()
 	case msgChatResponseError:
 		m.state = idle
-		m.ViewState.Err = error(msg)
 		m.updateContent()
+		return m, shared.WrapError(msg)
 	case msgToolResults:
 		last := len(m.App.Messages) - 1
 		if last < 0 {
@@ -249,24 +249,6 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (shared.ViewModel, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// update views once window dimensions are known
-	if m.Width > 0 {
-		m.Header = m.headerView()
-		m.Footer = m.footerView()
-		m.Error = tuiutil.ErrorBanner(m.Err, m.Width)
-		fixedHeight := tuiutil.Height(m.Header) + tuiutil.Height(m.Error) + tuiutil.Height(m.Footer)
-
-		// calculate clamped input height to accomodate input text
-		// minimum 4 lines, maximum half of content area
-		newHeight := max(4, min((m.Height-fixedHeight-1)/2, m.input.LineCount()))
-		m.input.SetHeight(newHeight)
-		m.Input = m.input.View()
-
-		// remaining height towards content
-		m.content.Height = m.Height - fixedHeight - tuiutil.Height(m.Input)
-		m.Content = m.content.View()
-	}
-
 	// this is a pretty nasty hack to ensure the input area viewport doesn't
 	// scroll below its content, which can happen when the input viewport
 	// height has grown, or previously entered lines have been deleted
diff --git a/pkg/tui/views/chat/view.go b/pkg/tui/views/chat/view.go
index ba84a87..222ee57 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/views/chat/view.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/views/chat/view.go
@@ -39,29 +39,6 @@ var (
 	footerStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle()
 )
 
-func (m Model) View() string {
-	if m.Width == 0 {
-		return ""
-	}
-	sections := make([]string, 0, 6)
-
-	if m.Header != "" {
-		sections = append(sections, m.Header)
-	}
-
-	sections = append(sections, m.Content)
-	if m.Error != "" {
-		sections = append(sections, m.Error)
-	}
-	sections = append(sections, m.Input)
-
-	if m.Footer != "" {
-		sections = append(sections, m.Footer)
-	}
-
-	return lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left, sections...)
-}
-
 func (m *Model) renderMessageHeading(i int, message *api.Message) string {
 	icon := ""
 	friendly := message.Role.FriendlyRole()
@@ -254,7 +231,20 @@ func (m *Model) conversationMessagesView() string {
 	return sb.String()
 }
 
-func (m *Model) headerView() string {
+func (m *Model) Content(width, height int) string {
+	// calculate clamped input height to accomodate input text
+	// minimum 4 lines, maximum half of content area
+	inputHeight := max(4, min(height/2, m.input.LineCount()))
+	m.input.SetHeight(inputHeight)
+	input := m.input.View()
+
+	// remaining height towards content
+	m.content.Width, m.content.Height = width, height - tuiutil.Height(input)
+	content := m.content.View()
+	return lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left, content, input)
+}
+
+func (m *Model) Header(width int) string {
 	titleStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true)
 	var title string
 	if m.App.Conversation != nil && m.App.Conversation.Title != "" {
@@ -262,12 +252,12 @@ func (m *Model) headerView() string {
 	} else {
 		title = "Untitled"
 	}
-	title = tuiutil.TruncateToCellWidth(title, m.Width-styles.Header.GetHorizontalPadding(), "...")
+	title = tuiutil.TruncateToCellWidth(title, width-styles.Header.GetHorizontalPadding(), "...")
 	header := titleStyle.Render(title)
-	return styles.Header.Width(m.Width).Render(header)
+	return styles.Header.Width(width).Render(header)
 }
 
-func (m *Model) footerView() string {
+func (m *Model) Footer(width int) string {
 	segmentStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().PaddingLeft(1).PaddingRight(1).Faint(true)
 	segmentSeparator := "|"
 
@@ -305,7 +295,7 @@ func (m *Model) footerView() string {
 	right := strings.Join(rightSegments, segmentSeparator)
 
 	totalWidth := lipgloss.Width(left) + lipgloss.Width(right)
-	remaining := m.Width - totalWidth
+	remaining := width - totalWidth
 
 	var padding string
 	if remaining > 0 {
@@ -314,7 +304,7 @@ func (m *Model) footerView() string {
 
 	footer := left + padding + right
 	if remaining < 0 {
-		footer = tuiutil.TruncateToCellWidth(footer, m.Width, "...")
+		footer = tuiutil.TruncateToCellWidth(footer, width, "...")
 	}
-	return footerStyle.Width(m.Width).Render(footer)
+	return footerStyle.Width(width).Render(footer)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/tui/views/conversations/conversations.go b/pkg/tui/views/conversations/conversations.go
index 146be52..78c5836 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/views/conversations/conversations.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/views/conversations/conversations.go
@@ -27,29 +27,24 @@ type (
 )
 
 type Model struct {
-	*shared.ViewState
-	shared.Sections
-
-	App    *model.AppModel
-	cursor int
+	App   *model.AppModel
+	width int
+	height int
 
+	cursor      int
 	itemOffsets []int // conversation y offsets
 
 	content       viewport.Model
 	confirmPrompt bubbles.ConfirmPrompt
 }
 
-func Conversations(app *model.AppModel, shared shared.ViewState) Model {
+func Conversations(app *model.AppModel) *Model {
+	viewport.New(0, 0)
 	m := Model{
-		App:       app,
-		ViewState: &shared,
-		content:   viewport.New(0, 0),
+		App:     app,
+		content: viewport.New(0, 0),
 	}
-	return m
-}
-
-func (m Model) Initialized() bool {
-	return m.ViewState.Initialized
+	return &m
 }
 
 func (m *Model) handleInput(msg tea.KeyMsg) tea.Cmd {
@@ -129,12 +124,11 @@ func (m *Model) handleInput(msg tea.KeyMsg) tea.Cmd {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (m Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
-	m.ViewState.Initialized = true
-	return m.loadConversations()
+func (m *Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (shared.ViewModel, tea.Cmd) {
+func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (shared.ViewModel, tea.Cmd) {
 	isInput := false
 	inputHandled := false
 
@@ -144,15 +138,14 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (shared.ViewModel, tea.Cmd) {
 		isInput = true
 		cmd := m.handleInput(msg)
 		if cmd != nil {
-			inputHandled = true
 			cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
+			inputHandled = true
 		}
 	case shared.MsgViewEnter:
 		cmds = append(cmds, m.loadConversations())
 		m.content.SetContent(m.renderConversationList())
 	case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
-		m.Width, m.Height = msg.Width, msg.Height
-		m.content.Width = msg.Width
+		m.width, m.height = msg.Width, msg.Height
 		m.content.SetContent(m.renderConversationList())
 	case msgConversationsLoaded:
 		m.App.Conversations = msg
@@ -171,26 +164,13 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (shared.ViewModel, tea.Cmd) {
 	}
 
 	if !isInput || !inputHandled {
-		var cmd tea.Cmd
-		m.content, cmd = m.content.Update(msg)
+		content, cmd := m.content.Update(msg)
+		m.content = content
 		if cmd != nil {
 			cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if m.Width > 0 {
-		wrap := lipgloss.NewStyle().Width(m.Width)
-		m.Header = m.headerView()
-		m.Footer = "" // TODO: "Press ? for help"
-		if m.confirmPrompt.Focused() {
-			m.Footer = wrap.Render(m.confirmPrompt.View())
-		}
-		m.Error = tuiutil.ErrorBanner(m.Err, m.Width)
-		fixedHeight := tuiutil.Height(m.Header) + tuiutil.Height(m.Error) + tuiutil.Height(m.Footer)
-		m.content.Height = m.Height - fixedHeight
-		m.Content = m.content.View()
-	}
-
 	if len(cmds) > 0 {
 		return m, tea.Batch(cmds...)
 	}
@@ -218,32 +198,22 @@ func (m *Model) deleteConversation(conv api.Conversation) tea.Cmd {
 	}
 }
 
-func (m Model) View() string {
-	if m.Width == 0 {
-		return ""
-	}
-	sections := make([]string, 0, 6)
-
-	if m.Header != "" {
-		sections = append(sections, m.Header)
-	}
-
-	sections = append(sections, m.Content)
-	if m.Error != "" {
-		sections = append(sections, m.Error)
-	}
-
-	if m.Footer != "" {
-		sections = append(sections, m.Footer)
-	}
-
-	return lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left, sections...)
-}
-
-func (m *Model) headerView() string {
+func (m *Model) Header(width int) string {
 	titleStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true)
 	header := titleStyle.Render("Conversations")
-	return styles.Header.Width(m.Width).Render(header)
+	return styles.Header.Width(width).Render(header)
+}
+
+func (m *Model) Content(width int, height int) string {
+	m.content.Width, m.content.Height = width, height
+	return m.content.View()
+}
+
+func (m *Model) Footer(width int) string {
+	if m.confirmPrompt.Focused() {
+		return lipgloss.NewStyle().Width(width).Render(m.confirmPrompt.View())
+	}
+	return ""
 }
 
 func (m *Model) renderConversationList() string {
@@ -321,7 +291,7 @@ func (m *Model) renderConversationList() string {
 			tStyle = tStyle.Inherit(selectedStyle)
 		}
 
-		title := tStyle.Width(m.Width - 3).PaddingLeft(2).Render(c.Conv.Title)
+		title := tStyle.Width(m.width - 3).PaddingLeft(2).Render(c.Conv.Title)
 		if i == m.cursor {
 			title = ">" + title[1:]
 		}