diff --git a/collects/framework/framework.ss b/collects/framework/framework.ss
index 89096b48..e1ca90b8 100644
--- a/collects/framework/framework.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/framework.ss
@@ -657,6 +657,15 @@
     ""
     "See section \\ref{selecting-a-filename} for more information.")
 
+   (frame:setup-size-pref
+    (symbol? number? number? . -> . void)
+    (size-pref-sym width height)
+    "Initializes a preference for the"
+    "@mixin-link frame:size-pref"
+    "mixin."
+    ""
+    "The first argument should be the preferences symbol, and the second an third"
+    "should be the default width and height, respectively.")
    (frame:add-snip-menu-items
     ((is-a?/c menu%) (subclass?/c menu-item%) . -> . void?)
     (menu menu-item%)
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/frame.ss b/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
index c33efdba..9ea832ed 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
@@ -222,6 +222,16 @@
           (let ([lst (preferences:get size-preferences-key)])
             (super-new [width (car lst)] [height (cadr lst)]))))
 
+      (define (setup-size-pref size-preferences-key w h)
+        (preferences:set-default size-preferences-key 
+                                 (list w h)
+                                 (lambda (x)
+                                   (and (pair? x)
+                                        (pair? (cdr x))
+                                        (null? (cddr x))
+                                        (number? (car x))
+                                        (number? (cadr x))))))
+      
       (define register-group<%> (interface ()))
       (define register-group-mixin
         (mixin (basic<%>) (register-group<%>)
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/sig.ss b/collects/framework/private/sig.ss
index 56892119..31be22ec 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/sig.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/sig.ss
@@ -412,7 +412,8 @@
      pasteboard-info-mixin))
   (define-signature framework:frame-fun^
     (reorder-menus
-     add-snip-menu-items))
+     add-snip-menu-items
+     setup-size-pref))
   (define-signature framework:frame^
     ((open framework:frame-class^)
      (open framework:frame-fun^)))