A printhead is provided having an ejection surface having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting droplets and a nozzle guard positioned over the ejection surface and having a plurality of channels therethrough aligned with the nozzles. The channels have hydrophobic sidewalls and are radially flared with respect to the ink ejection surface such that droplets which are ejected from the nozzles with misdirection rebound off the channel sidewalls to pass through the channels.