diff --git a/gramps/gui/columnorder.py b/gramps/gui/columnorder.py
index 914c0c6ad..68a3e401f 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/columnorder.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/columnorder.py
@@ -179,11 +179,11 @@ class ColumnOrder(Gtk.VBox):
                 newvis.append(index)
             neworder.append(index)
             newsize.append(size)
-        self.config.set('columns.rank', neworder)
-        self.config.set('columns.size', newsize)
-        self.config.set('columns.visible', newvis)
-        self.config.save()
-        if self.on_apply:
+        if len(newvis) > 0 and self.on_apply:
+            self.config.set('columns.rank', neworder)
+            self.config.set('columns.size', newsize)
+            self.config.set('columns.visible', newvis)
+            self.config.save()
             self.on_apply()
 
 def toggled(cell, path, model):