diff --git a/collects/framework/private/frame.ss b/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
index ab3a66d590..b9b1134e43 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
@@ -287,12 +287,18 @@
                         (send dc set-pen (send the-pen-list find-or-create-pen line-color 1 line-style))
                         (send dc set-brush (send the-brush-list find-or-create-brush bg-color bg-style))
                         (send dc draw-rectangle 0 0 w h)
-                        (send dc draw-text str1
-                              (- (/ w 2) (/ tw1 2))
-                              (- (* h 1/2) th1))
-                        (send dc draw-text str2
-                              (- (/ w 2) (/ tw2 2))
-                              (* h 1/2))))])
+                        (cond
+                          [(string=? str2 "")
+                           (send dc draw-text str1
+                                 (- (/ w 2) (/ tw1 2))
+                                 (- (* h 1/2) (/ th1 2)))]
+                          [else
+                           (send dc draw-text str1
+                                 (- (/ w 2) (/ tw1 2))
+                                 (- (* h 1/2) th1))
+                           (send dc draw-text str2
+                                 (- (/ w 2) (/ tw2 2))
+                                 (* h 1/2))])))])
               (if locked?
                   (draw locked-message-line1 locked-message-line2
                         "yellow" 'solid "black" 'solid)
@@ -310,8 +316,8 @@
                          [(wu2 hu2 _7 _8) (send dc get-text-extent unlocked-message-line2)])
               (stretchable-width #f)
               (stretchable-height #t)
-              (min-width (inexact->exact (floor (max wl1 wl2 wu1 wu2))))
-              (min-height (inexact->exact (floor (+ hu1 hu2))))))))
+              (min-width (inexact->exact (floor (+ 2 (max (+ wl1 2) (+ wl2 2) wu1 wu2)))))
+              (min-height (inexact->exact (floor (+ 2 hu1 hu2))))))))
   
       (define status-line<%>
         (interface (basic<%>)
diff --git a/collects/string-constants/danish-string-constants.ss b/collects/string-constants/danish-string-constants.ss
index 394b41e5e7..264ea4fd3d 100644
--- a/collects/string-constants/danish-string-constants.ss
+++ b/collects/string-constants/danish-string-constants.ss
@@ -196,8 +196,10 @@ please adhere to these guidelines:
   
   ;;; info bar at botttom of drscheme frame
   (collect-button-label "GC")
-  (read-only "Skrivebeskyttet")
-  (read/write "Læs/Skriv")
+  (read-only-line1 "Skrivebeskyttet")
+  (read-only-line2 "")
+  (read/write-line1 "Læs/")
+  (read/write-line2 "Skriv")
   (auto-extend-selection "Auto-udvid")
   (overwrite "Overskriv")
   (running "kører")
diff --git a/collects/string-constants/dutch-string-constants.ss b/collects/string-constants/dutch-string-constants.ss
index 95d6523a6f..4c489f3482 100644
--- a/collects/string-constants/dutch-string-constants.ss
+++ b/collects/string-constants/dutch-string-constants.ss
@@ -81,8 +81,10 @@
  
  ;;; info bar at botttom of drscheme frame
  (collect-button-label "GC")
- (read-only "Alleen lezen")
- (read/write "Lezen/Schrijven")
+ (read-only-line1 "Alleen")
+  (read-only-line2 "lezen")
+ (read/write-line1 "Lezen/")
+  (read/write-line2 "Schrijven")
  (auto-extend-selection "Auto-extend") ; <**> -- when does this appear?
  (overwrite "Vervang")
  (running "Bezig")
diff --git a/collects/string-constants/french-string-constants.ss b/collects/string-constants/french-string-constants.ss
index 793cd6c93d..599031c37e 100644
--- a/collects/string-constants/french-string-constants.ss
+++ b/collects/string-constants/french-string-constants.ss
@@ -196,8 +196,10 @@
 
   ;;; info bar at botttom of drscheme frame
   (collect-button-label "Ramassage") ; de miettes
-  (read-only "Lecture seulement")
-  (read/write "Lecture/écriture")
+  (read-only-line1 "Lecture")
+  (read-only-line2 "seulement")
+  (read/write-line1 "Lecture/")
+  (read/write-line2 "écriture")
   (auto-extend-selection "Autosélection") ; "Sélection auto-étendable" ?
   (overwrite "Correction") ; vs Insertion ? surimpression ?
   (running "en cours")
diff --git a/collects/string-constants/german-string-constants.ss b/collects/string-constants/german-string-constants.ss
index d18f96ec44..fcf7715c42 100644
--- a/collects/string-constants/german-string-constants.ss
+++ b/collects/string-constants/german-string-constants.ss
@@ -98,8 +98,10 @@
 
  ;;; info bar at botttom of drscheme frame
  (collect-button-label "GC")
- (read-only "Schreibgeschützt")
- (read/write "Lesen/Schreiben")
+  (read-only-line1 "Schreibgeschützt")
+  (read-only-line2 "")
+ (read/write-line1 "Lesen/")
+  (read/write-line2 "Schreiben")
  (auto-extend-selection "Automatisch erweitern")
  (overwrite "Überschreiben")
  (running "Programm läuft")
diff --git a/collects/string-constants/portuguese-string-constants.ss b/collects/string-constants/portuguese-string-constants.ss
index 27b274964e..8b0734e83f 100644
--- a/collects/string-constants/portuguese-string-constants.ss
+++ b/collects/string-constants/portuguese-string-constants.ss
@@ -196,8 +196,10 @@ please adhere to these guidelines:
 
  ;;; info bar at botttom of drscheme frame
  (collect-button-label "GC")
- (read-only "Apenas Leitura")
- (read/write "Leitura/Escrita")
+ (read-only-line1 "Apenas")
+ (read-only-line2 "Leitura")
+ (read/write-line1 "Leitura/")
+ (read/write-line2 "Escrita")
  (auto-extend-selection "Auto-Extensível")
  (overwrite "Reescrever")
  (running "a executar")
diff --git a/collects/string-constants/spanish-string-constants.ss b/collects/string-constants/spanish-string-constants.ss
index 0d86028c1b..c1fb74b6bc 100644
--- a/collects/string-constants/spanish-string-constants.ss
+++ b/collects/string-constants/spanish-string-constants.ss
@@ -104,8 +104,10 @@
  
  ;;; info bar at botttom of drscheme frame
  (collect-button-label "Recolectar")
- (read-only "Sólo lectura")
- (read/write "Lectura/Escritura")
+ (read-only-line1 "Sólo")
+ (read-only-line2 "lectura")
+ (read/write-line1 "Lectura/")
+ (read/write-line2 "Escritura")
  (auto-extend-selection "Selección Auto-Extendida")
  (overwrite "Sobreescribir")
  (running "ejecutando")