diff --git a/collects/embedded-gui/private/button-snip.ss b/collects/embedded-gui/private/button-snip.ss
index 6bdc1abc..ac8f345f 100644
--- a/collects/embedded-gui/private/button-snip.ss
+++ b/collects/embedded-gui/private/button-snip.ss
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
       (field
        [got-click? false]
        [inside? false])
-      
+
       (define/override (on-event dc x y editorx editory event)
         (case (send event get-event-type)
           [(left-down)
@@ -115,7 +115,9 @@
            (set! inside? false)]
           [else (void)]))
       
-      (super-make-object label)))
+      (super-make-object label)
+      (inherit set-style)
+      (set-style control-style)))
   
   ;; a toggle button that displays different images
   (define toggle-button-snip%
diff --git a/collects/embedded-gui/private/embedded-message.ss b/collects/embedded-gui/private/embedded-message.ss
index 530eb513..7da56c0e 100644
--- a/collects/embedded-gui/private/embedded-message.ss
+++ b/collects/embedded-gui/private/embedded-message.ss
@@ -6,12 +6,14 @@
    "snip-wrapper.ss")
   
   (provide embedded-message%)
-  
+
   (define embedded-message%
     (class snip-wrapper%
       
       (init label)
       
       (super-new
-       (snip (make-object string-snip% label)))))
+       (snip (let ([s (make-object string-snip% label)])
+	       (send s set-style control-style)
+	       s)))))
   )
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/collects/embedded-gui/private/fixed-width-label-snip.ss b/collects/embedded-gui/private/fixed-width-label-snip.ss
index 187a62b3..14fd0be9 100644
--- a/collects/embedded-gui/private/fixed-width-label-snip.ss
+++ b/collects/embedded-gui/private/fixed-width-label-snip.ss
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
          (right-inset 1)
          (bottom-inset 1))
         
-        (field [font (make-object font% 10 'roman 'normal 'normal)])
+        (field [font normal-control-font])
         
         (unless (member label labels)
           (error 'fixed-width-label-snip
diff --git a/collects/embedded-gui/private/snip-wrapper.ss b/collects/embedded-gui/private/snip-wrapper.ss
index e23cf970..28a90c98 100644
--- a/collects/embedded-gui/private/snip-wrapper.ss
+++ b/collects/embedded-gui/private/snip-wrapper.ss
@@ -3,12 +3,22 @@
   (require
    (lib "etc.ss")
    (lib "class.ss")
+   (lib "mred.ss" "mred")
    "interface.ss"
    (prefix sl: "snip-lib.ss")
    "dllist.ss")
   
-  (provide snip-wrapper%)
-  
+  (provide control-style
+	   snip-wrapper%)
+
+  (define control-style
+    (let ([delta (make-object style-delta%)])
+      (send delta set-family 'system)
+      (send delta set-delta 'change-size (send normal-control-font get-point-size))
+      (send the-style-list find-or-create-style 
+	    (send the-style-list basic-style)
+	    delta)))
+    
   (define snip-wrapper%
     (class* dllist% (alignment<%>)
       (init-field parent snip)
diff --git a/collects/embedded-gui/private/verthoriz-alignment.ss b/collects/embedded-gui/private/verthoriz-alignment.ss
index 70400650..cd7f1e94 100644
--- a/collects/embedded-gui/private/verthoriz-alignment.ss
+++ b/collects/embedded-gui/private/verthoriz-alignment.ss
@@ -170,6 +170,6 @@
   ;; makes a new default rect out of an alignment
   (define (build-rect item)
     (a:make-rect
-     (a:make-dim 0 (send item get-min-width) (send item stretchable-width))
-     (a:make-dim 0 (send item get-min-height) (send item stretchable-height))))
+     (a:make-dim 0 (max 0 (send item get-min-width)) (send item stretchable-width))
+     (a:make-dim 0 (max 0 (send item get-min-height)) (send item stretchable-height))))
   )