diff --git a/pd/src/g_text.c b/pd/src/g_text.c
index 40460727b4a7c706985406df76888d289c5b171c..4eae176faf5ab4d41d05110fdea158b946211b36 100644
--- a/pd/src/g_text.c
+++ b/pd/src/g_text.c
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ void canvas_msg(t_glist *gl, t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv)
 
 /* ---------------------- the "atom" text item ------------------------ */
 
-#define ATOMBUFSIZE 40
+#define ATOMBUFSIZE 160
 #define ATOM_LABELLEFT 0
 #define ATOM_LABELRIGHT 1
 #define ATOM_LABELUP 2
@@ -1190,8 +1190,8 @@ static void gatom_param(t_gatom *x, t_symbol *sel, int argc, t_atom *argv)
     x->a_draghi = draghi;
     if (width < 0)
         width = 4;
-    else if (width > 80)
-        width = 80;
+    else if (width > ATOMBUFSIZE)
+        width = ATOMBUFSIZE;
     x->a_text.te_width = width;
     x->a_wherelabel = ((int)wherelabel & 3);
     x->a_label = label;