diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js
index 51968ef9fe..c681c94918 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ export const fixLifeLineHeights = (diagram, actors, actorKeys, conf) => {
 const drawActorTypeParticipant = function (elem, actor, conf, isFooter) {
   const actorY = isFooter ? actor.stopy : actor.starty;
   const center = actor.x + actor.width / 2;
-  const centerY = actorY + 5;
+  const centerY = actorY + actor.height;
 
   const boxplusLineGroup = elem.append('g').lower();
   var g = boxplusLineGroup;