diff --git a/src/preferences/backgrounds/BackgroundsView.cpp b/src/preferences/backgrounds/BackgroundsView.cpp
index 2e3f6a1f09..5e9118c8f0 100644
--- a/src/preferences/backgrounds/BackgroundsView.cpp
+++ b/src/preferences/backgrounds/BackgroundsView.cpp
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ BackgroundsView::BackgroundsView()
 
 	previewBox->AddChild(BLayoutBuilder::Group<>()
 		.AddGlue()
-		.AddGroup(B_VERTICAL, be_control_look->DefaultItemSpacing() * 2)
+		.AddGroup(B_VERTICAL, 0)
 			.AddGroup(B_HORIZONTAL, 0)
 				.AddGlue()
 				.AddGrid(0, 0, 1)
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ BackgroundsView::BackgroundsView()
 					.End()
 				.AddGlue()
 				.End()
-			.AddGroup(B_HORIZONTAL, B_USE_DEFAULT_SPACING)
+			.AddStrut(be_control_look->DefaultItemSpacing() * 2)
+			.AddGroup(B_HORIZONTAL)
 				.Add(fXPlacementText)
 				.Add(fYPlacementText)
 				.End()