diff --git a/src/main-window.c b/src/main-window.c
index 2266f60..8faedf3 100644
--- a/src/main-window.c
+++ b/src/main-window.c
@@ -2248,8 +2248,6 @@ balsa_window_new()
                                balsa_app.show_notebook_tabs);
     gtk_notebook_set_show_border (GTK_NOTEBOOK(window->notebook), FALSE);
     gtk_notebook_set_scrollable (GTK_NOTEBOOK (window->notebook), TRUE);
-    g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(window->notebook), "size_allocate",
-                     G_CALLBACK(bw_notebook_size_allocate_cb), window);
     g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(window->notebook), "switch_page",
                      G_CALLBACK(bw_notebook_switch_page_cb), window);
     gtk_drag_dest_set (GTK_WIDGET (window->notebook), GTK_DEST_DEFAULT_ALL,
@@ -2281,8 +2279,6 @@ balsa_window_new()
                       GTK_WIDGET(balsa_app.mblist));
     gtk_scrolled_window_set_policy(GTK_SCROLLED_WINDOW(window->mblist),
                                    GTK_POLICY_AUTOMATIC, GTK_POLICY_AUTOMATIC);
-    g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(balsa_app.mblist), "size_allocate",
-		     G_CALLBACK(bw_mblist_size_allocate_cb), window);
     g_signal_connect_swapped(balsa_app.mblist, "has-unread-mailbox",
 		             G_CALLBACK(bw_enable_next_unread), window);
     balsa_mblist_default_signal_bindings(balsa_app.mblist);
@@ -2371,6 +2367,26 @@ balsa_window_new()
     return GTK_WIDGET(window);
 }
 
+gboolean
+balsa_window_fix_paned(BalsaWindow *window)
+{
+    if (balsa_app.show_mblist) {
+        gtk_paned_set_position(GTK_PANED(window->paned_master),
+                               balsa_app.mblist_width);
+    }
+    if (balsa_app.previewpane) {
+        gtk_paned_set_position(GTK_PANED(window->paned_slave),
+                               balsa_app.notebook_height);
+    }
+
+    g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(balsa_app.mblist), "size_allocate",
+    	G_CALLBACK(bw_mblist_size_allocate_cb), window);
+    g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(window->notebook), "size_allocate",
+    	G_CALLBACK(bw_notebook_size_allocate_cb), window);
+
+    return FALSE;
+}
+
 /*
  * Enable or disable menu items/toolbar buttons which depend
  * on whether there is a mailbox open.
diff --git a/src/main-window.h b/src/main-window.h
index f5117bf..60b2fc1 100644
--- a/src/main-window.h
+++ b/src/main-window.h
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ enum {
 
 GType balsa_window_get_type(void);
 GtkWidget *balsa_window_new(void);
+gboolean balsa_window_fix_paned(BalsaWindow *window);
 GtkWidget *balsa_window_find_current_index(BalsaWindow * window);
 void balsa_window_update_book_menus(BalsaWindow *window);
 void balsa_window_refresh(BalsaWindow * window);
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index f775bb4..0b697dc 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -693,9 +693,8 @@ real_main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     balsa_check_open_compose_window();
 
-    gtk_widget_show(window);
-
     g_idle_add((GSourceFunc) scan_mailboxes_idle_cb, NULL);
+    g_idle_add((GSourceFunc) balsa_window_fix_paned, balsa_app.main_window);
     g_timeout_add_seconds(1801, (GSourceFunc) periodic_expunge_cb, NULL);
 
     if (cmd_check_mail_on_startup || balsa_app.check_mail_upon_startup)