diff --git a/libempathy-gtk/empathy-chat.ui b/libempathy-gtk/empathy-chat.ui
index 7af4832..4560f06 100644
--- a/libempathy-gtk/empathy-chat.ui
+++ b/libempathy-gtk/empathy-chat.ui
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
             <property name="spacing">6</property>
             <child>
               <object class="GtkScrolledWindow" id="scrolled_window_chat">
+                <property name="width_request">500</property>
+                <property name="height_request">300</property>
                 <property name="visible">True</property>
                 <property name="can_focus">True</property>
                 <property name="hscrollbar_policy">automatic</property>
