diff --git a/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/frame.rkt b/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/frame.rkt
index b5a0bf2b..18750e0c 100644
--- a/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/frame.rkt
+++ b/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/frame.rkt
@@ -237,6 +237,8 @@
 
     (define/override (set-child-size child-gtk x y w h)
       (gtk_fixed_move panel-gtk child-gtk (->screen x) (->screen y))
+      ;; gtk3: we expect a panel in a frame to be always visible, so
+      ;; this size erquest should work
       (gtk_widget_set_size_request child-gtk (->screen w) (->screen h)))
 
     (define/public (on-close) #t)
diff --git a/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/panel.rkt b/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/panel.rkt
index 8dc97540..7d89fd3e 100644
--- a/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/panel.rkt
+++ b/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/panel.rkt
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 (define-gtk gtk_event_box_set_visible_window (_fun _GtkWidget _gboolean -> _void))
 
 (define-gtk gtk_fixed_move (_fun _GtkWidget _GtkWidget _int _int -> _void))
+(define-gtk gtk_widget_get_visible (_fun _GtkWidget -> _gboolean))
 
 (define-gtk gtk_container_set_border_width (_fun _GtkWidget _int -> _void))
 
@@ -137,7 +138,15 @@
     (super-new)
     (define/override (set-child-size child-gtk x y w h)
       (gtk_fixed_move (get-container-gtk) child-gtk (->screen x) (->screen y))
-      (gtk_widget_set_size_request child-gtk (->screen w) (->screen h)))))
+      (define re-hide?
+	(and gtk3?
+	     (not (gtk_widget_get_visible child-gtk))
+	     (begin
+	       (gtk_widget_show child-gtk)
+	       #t)))
+      (gtk_widget_set_size_request child-gtk (->screen w) (->screen h))
+      (when re-hide?
+	(gtk_widget_hide child-gtk)))))
 
 (define panel%
   (class (panel-container-mixin (panel-mixin window%))
diff --git a/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/window.rkt b/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/window.rkt
index 00448f06..c2c858de 100644
--- a/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/window.rkt
+++ b/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/window.rkt
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@
           (set! client-delta-h (->normal
 				(- (GtkRequisition-height req)
 				   (GtkRequisition-height creq)))))
-	(when gtk3? (gtk_widget_show gtk))))
+	(when gtk3? (gtk_widget_hide gtk))))
 
     (define/public (set-auto-size [dw 0] [dh 0])
       (let ([req (make-GtkRequisition 0 0)])
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@
     (define/public (direct-show on?)
       ;; atomic mode
       (if on?
-          (gtk_widget_show gtk)
+	  (gtk_widget_show gtk)
           (gtk_widget_hide gtk))
       (set! shown? (and on? #t))
       (register-child-in-parent on?)