diff --git a/src/Fl_Text_Buffer.cxx b/src/Fl_Text_Buffer.cxx
index 7495be19a..0865e87b6 100644
--- a/src/Fl_Text_Buffer.cxx
+++ b/src/Fl_Text_Buffer.cxx
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 #include <FL/Fl_Text_Buffer.H>
 
 
-#define PREFERRED_GAP_SIZE 80
+#define PREFERRED_GAP_SIZE 1024
 /* Initial size for the buffer gap (empty space
 in the buffer where text might be inserted
 if the user is typing sequential chars ) */