diff --git a/src/Fl_Browser.cxx b/src/Fl_Browser.cxx
index 85cdd8829..18848c2d6 100644
--- a/src/Fl_Browser.cxx
+++ b/src/Fl_Browser.cxx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// "$Id: Fl_Browser.cxx,v 1.9.2.2 1999/03/13 20:25:09 bill Exp $"
+// "$Id: Fl_Browser.cxx,v 1.9.2.3 1999/03/13 20:35:33 bill Exp $"
 //
 // Browser widget for the Fast Light Tool Kit (FLTK).
 //
@@ -206,13 +206,13 @@ void Fl_Browser::data(int line, void* data) {
 int Fl_Browser::item_height(void* lv) const {
   FL_BLINE* l = (FL_BLINE*)lv;
   if (l->flags & NOTDISPLAYED) return 0;
-  int hmax = 0;
 
+  int hmax = 2; // use 2 to insure we don't return a zero!
+  // do each column sepeartely as they may all set different fonts:
   for (char* str = l->txt; *str; str++) {
     Fl_Font font = Fl_Font(0); // default font
     int size = textsize(); // default size
-    while(*str==format_char())
-    {
+    while (*str==format_char()) {
       str++;
       switch (*str++) {
       case 'l': case 'L': size = 24; break;
@@ -223,20 +223,20 @@ int Fl_Browser::item_height(void* lv) const {
       case 'f': case 't': font = FL_COURIER; break;
       case 'S': size = strtol(str,&str,10); break;
       case 'F': font = (Fl_Font)strtol(str,&str,10); break;
-      case 0: case '@': str--; 
+      case 0: case '@': str--;
       case '.': goto END_FORMAT;
-      } 
+      }
     }
     END_FORMAT:
     char* ptr = str;
     for(;*str && (*str!=column_char()); str++) ;
     if (ptr < str) {
       fl_font(font, size); int h = fl_height();
-      if (h > hmax) hmax = size;
+      if (h > hmax) hmax = h;
     }
   }
 
-  return hmax+2;
+  return hmax; // previous version returned hmax+2!
 }
 
 int Fl_Browser::item_width(void* v) const {
@@ -475,5 +475,5 @@ int Fl_Browser::value() const {
 }
 
 //
-// End of "$Id: Fl_Browser.cxx,v 1.9.2.2 1999/03/13 20:25:09 bill Exp $".
+// End of "$Id: Fl_Browser.cxx,v 1.9.2.3 1999/03/13 20:35:33 bill Exp $".
 //