diff --git a/libs/canvas/box.cc b/libs/canvas/box.cc
index 8368552f09..8afff1109e 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/box.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/box.cc
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 
 #include "pbd/unwind.h"
+#include "pbd/stacktrace.h"
 
 #include "canvas/box.h"
 #include "canvas/rectangle.h"
@@ -39,11 +40,13 @@ Box::Box (Canvas* canvas, Orientation o)
 	bg->name = "bg rect for box";
 	bg->set_outline (false);
 	bg->set_fill (false);
+	bg->hide ();
 }
 
 void
 Box::render (Rect const & area, Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Context> context) const
 {
+	bg->render (area, context);
 	Item::render_children (area, context);
 }
 
@@ -148,6 +151,11 @@ Box::reposition_children ()
 
 	for (std::list<Item*>::iterator i = _items.begin(); i != _items.end(); ++i) {
 
+		if ((*i) == bg || !(*i)->visible()) {
+			/* background rect takes up no space */
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		(*i)->set_position (previous_edge);
 
 		if (homogenous) {
@@ -204,12 +212,10 @@ Box::reposition_children ()
 	}
 
 	if (!_bounding_box) {
-		bg->hide ();
 		return;
 	}
 
 	Rect r (_bounding_box);
-
 	/* XXX need to shrink by margin */
 	bg->set (r);
 }
diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/box.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/box.h
index 8e4b829be5..7996afe100 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/box.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/box.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ public:
 	void parented ();
 
   private:
-	Rectangle *bg;
+	Rectangle* bg;
 	bool collapse_on_hide;
 	bool homogenous;
 	bool repositioning;
diff --git a/libs/canvas/grid.cc b/libs/canvas/grid.cc
index 7a03d763ef..1588322b7c 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/grid.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/grid.cc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ Grid::Grid (Canvas* canvas)
 {
 	bg = new Rectangle (this);
 	bg->name = "bg rect for grid";
+	bg->hide ();
 }
 
 void
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ Grid::set_homogenous (bool yn)
 void
 Grid::render (Rect const & area, Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Context> context) const
 {
+	bg->render (area, context);
 	Item::render_children (area, context);
 }
 
@@ -297,7 +299,6 @@ Grid::reposition_children ()
 	}
 
 	if (!_bounding_box) {
-		bg->hide ();
 		return;
 	} else {
 
@@ -306,7 +307,6 @@ Grid::reposition_children ()
 		/* XXX need to shrink by margin */
 
 		bg->set (r);
-		bg->show ();
 	}
 }