diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 957b64b5..b4da6c8d 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -275,6 +275,9 @@ static void main_init(void)
 	gtk_widget_set_name(ui_lookup_widget(main_widgets.window, "menubar1"), "GeanyMenubar");
 	gtk_widget_set_name(main_widgets.toolbar, "GeanyToolbar");
 
+	/* for some reason we need to set the initial size request,
+	 * otherwise the main window gets crazy dimensions */
+	gtk_widget_set_size_request(main_widgets.window, 10, 10);
 	gtk_window_set_default_size(GTK_WINDOW(main_widgets.window),
 		GEANY_WINDOW_DEFAULT_WIDTH, GEANY_WINDOW_DEFAULT_HEIGHT);
 }