diff --git a/mousepad/mousepad-window.c b/mousepad/mousepad-window.c
index e73cccb..cd6134d 100644
--- a/mousepad/mousepad-window.c
+++ b/mousepad/mousepad-window.c
@@ -2461,8 +2461,8 @@ mousepad_window_menu_templates (GtkWidget      *item,
     }
   else
     {
-      /* hide the templates menu item */
-      gtk_widget_hide (item);
+      /* disable the templates menu item */
+      gtk_widget_set_sensitive (item, FALSE);
     }
 
   /* cleanup */