diff --git a/src/Fl_Table_Row.cxx b/src/Fl_Table_Row.cxx
index 3a091ff3d..e800455f8 100644
--- a/src/Fl_Table_Row.cxx
+++ b/src/Fl_Table_Row.cxx
@@ -51,7 +51,12 @@ Fl_Table_Row::CharVector::~CharVector() {       // DTOR
 }
 
 void Fl_Table_Row::CharVector::size(int count) {
-  if (count <= 0 ) count = 1;    // (issue #296)
+  if (count <= 0 ) {    // Same state as init() - (issue #296)
+    if ( arr ) free(arr);
+    arr   = 0;
+    _size = 0;
+    return;
+  }
   if (count != _size) {
     arr = (char*)realloc(arr, (unsigned)count * sizeof(char));
     _size = count;