diff --git a/panel-plugin/scalemenuitem.c b/panel-plugin/scalemenuitem.c
index 2755075..44a621b 100644
--- a/panel-plugin/scalemenuitem.c
+++ b/panel-plugin/scalemenuitem.c
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ scale_menu_item_new_with_range (gdouble           min,
 
   g_signal_connect (priv->scale, "value-changed", G_CALLBACK (scale_menu_item_scale_value_changed), scale_item);
   g_object_ref (priv->scale);
-  gtk_widget_set_size_request (priv->scale, 100, -1);
+  gtk_widget_set_size_request (priv->scale, 100, 50);
   gtk_range_set_inverted (GTK_RANGE(priv->scale), FALSE);
   gtk_scale_set_draw_value (GTK_SCALE(priv->scale), FALSE);
   if (max > 100.0)