diff --git a/graphics/elements/indicators/state.lua b/graphics/elements/indicators/state.lua
index a3d5854..5dd39ee 100644
--- a/graphics/elements/indicators/state.lua
+++ b/graphics/elements/indicators/state.lua
@@ -45,11 +45,7 @@ local function state_indicator(args)
             args.width = string.len(state_def.text)
         end
 
-        local len = string.len(state_def.text)
-        local lpad = math.floor((args.width - len) / 2)
-        local rpad = args.width - lpad
-
-        local text = util.spaces(lpad) .. state_def.text .. util.spaces(rpad)
+        local text = util.pad(state_def.text, args.width)
 
         table.insert(state_blit_cmds, {
             text = text,
diff --git a/scada-common/log.lua b/scada-common/log.lua
index 08aa8c8..dadba40 100644
--- a/scada-common/log.lua
+++ b/scada-common/log.lua
@@ -231,17 +231,14 @@ function log.dmesg_working(msg, tag, tag_color)
     end
 
     local function done(ok)
-        local lpad = math.max(math.floor((width - 4) / 2), 0)
-        local rpad = (width - 4) - lpad
-
         out.setCursorPos(ts_coord.x1, ts_coord.y)
 
         if ok or ok == nil then
             out.setTextColor(colors.green)
-            out.write(util.spaces(lpad) .. "DONE" .. util.spaces(rpad))
+            out.write(util.pad("DONE", width))
         else
             out.setTextColor(colors.red)
-            out.write(util.spaces(lpad) .. "FAIL" .. util.spaces(rpad))
+            out.write(util.pad("FAIL", width))
         end
 
         out.setTextColor(initial_color)
diff --git a/scada-common/util.lua b/scada-common/util.lua
index ccf9ff4..68957f9 100644
--- a/scada-common/util.lua
+++ b/scada-common/util.lua
@@ -75,6 +75,18 @@ function util.spaces(n)
     return util.strrep(" ", n)
 end
 
+-- pad text to a minimum width
+---@param str string text
+---@param n integer minimum width
+---@return string
+function util.pad(str, n)
+    local len = string.len(str)
+    local lpad = math.floor((n - len) / 2)
+    local rpad = (n - len) - lpad
+
+    return util.spaces(lpad) .. str .. util.spaces(rpad)
+end
+
 -- wrap a string into a table of lines, supporting single dash splits
 ---@param str string
 ---@param limit integer line limit