diff --git a/src/components/Timeline.jsx b/src/components/Timeline.jsx
index a05c5e3..5c42e17 100644
--- a/src/components/Timeline.jsx
+++ b/src/components/Timeline.jsx
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ class Timeline extends React.Component {
   }
 
   makeScaleY(categories) {
-    const catsYpos = categories.map((g, i) => (i + 1) * this.state.dims.trackHeight / categories.length);
+    const tickHeight = 15;
+    const catsYpos = categories.map((g, i) => (i + 1) * this.state.dims.trackHeight / categories.length + tickHeight / 2);
     return d3.scaleOrdinal()
       .domain(categories)
       .range(catsYpos);
diff --git a/src/components/TimelineCategories.jsx b/src/components/TimelineCategories.jsx
index d1cd15f..c90697c 100644
--- a/src/components/TimelineCategories.jsx
+++ b/src/components/TimelineCategories.jsx
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class TimelineCategories extends React.Component {
   }
 
   getY(idx) {
-    return (idx + 1) * this.props.dims.trackHeight / this.props.categories.length
+    return (idx + 1) * this.props.dims.trackHeight / this.props.categories.length + 7.5;
   }
 
   renderCategory(category, idx) {