diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.cc b/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.cc
index ea610f2550..43d18b628a 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.cc
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ MeterStrip::MeterStrip (int metricmode)
 	set_spacing(2);
 	peakbx.set_size_request(-1, 14);
 	btnbox.set_size_request(-1, 16);
-	namebx.set_size_request(14, 52);
+	namebx.set_size_request(18, 52);
 
 	_types.clear ();
 	switch(metricmode) {
@@ -325,6 +325,15 @@ MeterStrip::on_size_allocate (Gtk::Allocation& a)
 {
 	metric_patterns.clear();
 	ticks_patterns.clear();
+	const int wh = a.get_height();
+	int nh = ceilf(wh * .11f);
+	if (nh < 52) nh = 52;
+	if (nh > 148) nh = 148;
+	namebx.set_size_request(18, nh);
+	if (_route) {
+		name_label.set_size_request(18, nh-2);
+		name_label.layout()->set_width((nh-4) * PANGO_SCALE);
+	}
 	VBox::on_size_allocate(a);
 }
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/meterbridge.cc b/gtk2_ardour/meterbridge.cc
index 5adc7d7f7b..6ab84d9874 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/meterbridge.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/meterbridge.cc
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ Meterbridge::Meterbridge ()
 
 	Gdk::Geometry geom;
 	geom.max_width = 1<<16;
-	geom.max_height = 1024 + 52 + 16 + 12 ; // XXX see FastMeter::max_pattern_metric_size + meter-strip widgets
+	geom.max_height = 1024 + 148 + 16 + 12 ; // see FastMeter::max_pattern_metric_size + meter-strip widgets
 	set_geometry_hints(*((Gtk::Window*) this), geom, Gdk::HINT_MAX_SIZE);
 
 	set_keep_above (true);