diff --git a/tools/cabana/binaryview.cc b/tools/cabana/binaryview.cc
index 84225bb96c76fa1..d0576615c9ef5ea 100644
--- a/tools/cabana/binaryview.cc
+++ b/tools/cabana/binaryview.cc
@@ -273,6 +273,10 @@ void BinaryViewModel::refresh() {
     row_count = can->lastMessage(msg_id).dat.size();
     items.resize(row_count * column_count);
   }
+  int valid_rows = std::min(can->lastMessage(msg_id).dat.size(), row_count);
+  for (int i = 0; i < valid_rows * column_count; ++i) {
+    items[i].valid = true;
+  }
   endResetModel();
   updateState();
 }
@@ -307,9 +311,6 @@ void BinaryViewModel::updateState() {
     items[i * column_count + 8].val = toHex(binary[i]);
     items[i * column_count + 8].bg_color = last_msg.colors[i];
   }
-  for (int i = binary.size() * column_count; i < items.size(); ++i) {
-    items[i].val = "-";
-  }
 
   for (int i = 0; i < items.size(); ++i) {
     if (i >= prev_items.size() || prev_items[i].val != items[i].val || prev_items[i].bg_color != items[i].bg_color) {
@@ -376,6 +377,9 @@ void BinaryItemDelegate::paint(QPainter *painter, const QStyleOptionViewItem &op
     }
   }
 
+  if (!item->valid) {
+    painter->fillRect(option.rect, QBrush(Qt::darkGray, Qt::BDiagPattern));
+  }
   painter->drawText(option.rect, Qt::AlignCenter, item->val);
   if (item->is_msb || item->is_lsb) {
     painter->setFont(small_font);
diff --git a/tools/cabana/binaryview.h b/tools/cabana/binaryview.h
index 8598fe490b7cff4..aa1f8c656b51422 100644
--- a/tools/cabana/binaryview.h
+++ b/tools/cabana/binaryview.h
@@ -42,8 +42,9 @@ class BinaryViewModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
     QColor bg_color = QColor(102, 86, 169, 0);
     bool is_msb = false;
     bool is_lsb = false;
-    QString val = "-";
+    QString val;
     QList<const cabana::Signal *> sigs;
+    bool valid = false;
   };
   std::vector<Item> items;