diff --git a/src/layouts/QskLayoutItem.cpp b/src/layouts/QskLayoutItem.cpp
index 8134a3fc..a5fbd295 100644
--- a/src/layouts/QskLayoutItem.cpp
+++ b/src/layouts/QskLayoutItem.cpp
@@ -75,11 +75,24 @@ QSizeF QskLayoutItem::sizeHint(
 
     if ( m_item == nullptr )
     {
-        if ( m_isStretchable && whichHint == Qt::MaximumSize )
-            return QSizeF( QskLayoutConstraint::unlimited, QskLayoutConstraint::unlimited );
-
         // a spacer item
-        return m_spacingHint;
+        if ( whichHint == Qt::MaximumSize )
+        {
+            if ( m_isStretchable )
+                return QSizeF( QskLayoutConstraint::unlimited, QskLayoutConstraint::unlimited );
+
+            if ( m_spacingHint.width() < 0 )
+                return QSizeF( QskLayoutConstraint::unlimited, m_spacingHint.height() );
+            else
+                return QSizeF( m_spacingHint.width(), QskLayoutConstraint::unlimited );
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if ( m_spacingHint.width() < 0 )
+                return QSizeF( 0, m_spacingHint.height() );
+            else
+                return QSizeF( m_spacingHint.width(), 0 );
+        }
     }
 
     QSizeF hint( 0, 0 );
diff --git a/src/layouts/QskLinearBox.cpp b/src/layouts/QskLinearBox.cpp
index 277e8c2e..74aa7db0 100644
--- a/src/layouts/QskLinearBox.cpp
+++ b/src/layouts/QskLinearBox.cpp
@@ -183,9 +183,9 @@ void QskLinearBox::insertSpacer( int index, qreal spacing, int stretchFactor )
 
     QskLayoutItem* layoutItem;
     if ( m_data->orientation == Qt::Horizontal )
-        layoutItem = new QskLayoutItem( QSizeF( spacing, 0 ), stretchFactor, 0, 0 );
+        layoutItem = new QskLayoutItem( QSizeF( spacing, -1.0 ), stretchFactor, 0, 0 );
     else
-        layoutItem = new QskLayoutItem( QSizeF( 0, spacing ), stretchFactor, 0, 0 );
+        layoutItem = new QskLayoutItem( QSizeF( -1.0, spacing ), stretchFactor, 0, 0 );
 
 #if 1
     if ( stretchFactor >= 0 )