diff --git a/d2layouts/d2sequence/constants.go b/d2layouts/d2sequence/constants.go
index 7dcf72d35..e39f8e2dd 100644
--- a/d2layouts/d2sequence/constants.go
+++ b/d2layouts/d2sequence/constants.go
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ const VERTICAL_PAD = 50.
 
 const MIN_ACTOR_DISTANCE = 250.
 
+const MIN_ACTOR_WIDTH = 150.
+
 // min vertical distance between messages
 const MIN_MESSAGE_DISTANCE = 80.
 
@@ -25,3 +27,6 @@ const SPAN_MESSAGE_PAD = 16.
 const LIFELINE_STROKE_WIDTH int = 2
 
 const LIFELINE_STROKE_DASH int = 8
+
+// pad when the actor has the label placed OutsideMiddleBottom so that the lifeline is not so close to the text
+const LIFELINE_LABEL_PAD = 5.
diff --git a/d2layouts/d2sequence/layout_test.go b/d2layouts/d2sequence/layout_test.go
index c54028a07..83892aada 100644
--- a/d2layouts/d2sequence/layout_test.go
+++ b/d2layouts/d2sequence/layout_test.go
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ func TestSpansSequenceDiagram(t *testing.T) {
 	if a_t1.TopLeft.Y != b_t1.TopLeft.Y {
 		t.Fatal("expected a.t1 and b.t1 to be placed at the same Y")
 	}
-	if a_t1.TopLeft.Y-SPAN_MESSAGE_PAD != g.Edges[0].Route[0].Y {
+	if a_t1.TopLeft.Y+SPAN_MESSAGE_PAD != g.Edges[0].Route[0].Y {
 		t.Fatal("expected a.t1 to be placed at the same Y of the first message")
 	}
 
diff --git a/d2layouts/d2sequence/sequence_diagram.go b/d2layouts/d2sequence/sequence_diagram.go
index 9e5206e58..10aa7259d 100644
--- a/d2layouts/d2sequence/sequence_diagram.go
+++ b/d2layouts/d2sequence/sequence_diagram.go
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@ func newSequenceDiagram(actors []*d2graph.Object, messages []*d2graph.Edge) *seq
 	for rank, actor := range actors {
 		sd.root = actor.Parent
 		sd.objectRank[actor] = rank
+
+		if actor.Width < MIN_ACTOR_WIDTH {
+			aspectRatio := actor.Height / actor.Width
+			actor.Width = MIN_ACTOR_WIDTH
+			actor.Height = math.Round(aspectRatio * actor.Width)
+		}
 		sd.maxActorHeight = math.Max(sd.maxActorHeight, actor.Height)
 
 		queue := make([]*d2graph.Object, len(actor.ChildrenArray))
@@ -138,7 +144,7 @@ func (sd *sequenceDiagram) addLifelineEdges() {
 		actorBottom := actor.Center()
 		actorBottom.Y = actor.TopLeft.Y + actor.Height
 		if *actor.LabelPosition == string(label.OutsideBottomCenter) {
-			actorBottom.Y += float64(*actor.LabelHeight)
+			actorBottom.Y += float64(*actor.LabelHeight) + LIFELINE_LABEL_PAD
 		}
 		actorLifelineEnd := actor.Center()
 		actorLifelineEnd.Y = endY
@@ -180,7 +186,7 @@ func (sd *sequenceDiagram) placeSpans() {
 	}
 
 	// places spans from most to least nested
-	// the order is important because the only way a child span exists is if there'e an message to it
+	// the order is important because the only way a child span exists is if there's a message to it
 	// however, the parent span might not have a message to it and then its position is based on the child position
 	// or, there can be a message to it, but it comes after the child one meaning the top left position is still based on the child
 	// and not on its own message