diff --git a/src/gui/widgets/shortlistcomboentry.py b/src/gui/widgets/shortlistcomboentry.py
index a1681c823..ce435c8c6 100644
--- a/src/gui/widgets/shortlistcomboentry.py
+++ b/src/gui/widgets/shortlistcomboentry.py
@@ -82,11 +82,19 @@ class ShortlistComboEntry(ValidatedComboEntry):
         
         # create the model and insert the items
         model = gtk.ListStore(gtype, gobject.TYPE_BOOLEAN)
+        maxlen = -1
         for item in items:
+            if len(str(item)) > maxlen:
+                maxlen = len(str(item))
             model.append((item, False))
-            
+        
+        width = -1 #default width
+        if 1 < maxlen < 4:
+            width = 4
+        elif 1 < maxlen < 10:
+            width = maxlen + 1
         ValidatedComboEntry.__init__(self, data_type, model,
-                                     COLUMN_ITEM, validator)
+                                     COLUMN_ITEM, validator, width=width)
         if shortlist:
             self._shortlist = []
             self.connect("changed", self._on_combobox_changed)
diff --git a/src/gui/widgets/validatedcomboentry.py b/src/gui/widgets/validatedcomboentry.py
index 97fcaec0e..7ff5cad6b 100644
--- a/src/gui/widgets/validatedcomboentry.py
+++ b/src/gui/widgets/validatedcomboentry.py
@@ -65,10 +65,11 @@ class ValidatedComboEntry(gtk.ComboBox, gtk.CellLayout):
     """
     __gtype_name__ = "ValidatedComboEntry"
     
-    def __init__(self, datatype, model=None, column=-1, validator=None):
+    def __init__(self, datatype, model=None, column=-1, validator=None, width=-1):
         gtk.ComboBox.__init__(self, model)
 
         self._entry = gtk.Entry()
+        self._entry.set_width_chars(width)
         # <hack description="set the GTK_ENTRY(self._entry)->is_cell_renderer
         # flag to TRUE in order to tell the entry to fill its allocation.">
         dummy_event = gtk.gdk.Event(gtk.gdk.NOTHING)