diff --git a/applets/clock/clock.c b/applets/clock/clock.c
index b8057a4..3065cfc 100644
--- a/applets/clock/clock.c
+++ b/applets/clock/clock.c
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ mb_panel_applet_create (const char    *id,
         GtkWidget *label;
         time_t t;
         struct tm *local_time;
+        int ref_string_width;
 
         applet = g_slice_new0 (ClockApplet);
 
@@ -81,6 +82,17 @@ mb_panel_applet_create (const char    *id,
 
         gtk_widget_set_name (label, "MatchboxPanelClock");
 
+        /* Size the widget using the widest possible time string ("88:88") */
+        PangoContext *context = gtk_widget_get_pango_context(label);
+        PangoLayout *reference_string = pango_layout_new(context);
+
+        pango_layout_set_text(reference_string, "88:88", 5);
+        pango_layout_get_pixel_size(reference_string, &ref_string_width, NULL);
+
+        g_object_unref(reference_string);
+
+        gtk_widget_set_size_request(label, ref_string_width, -1);
+
         g_object_weak_ref (G_OBJECT (label),
                            (GWeakNotify) clock_applet_free,
                            applet);