diff --git a/shell/view/home/FriendsBox.py b/shell/view/home/FriendsBox.py
index ed722f47..32d1e30c 100644
--- a/shell/view/home/FriendsBox.py
+++ b/shell/view/home/FriendsBox.py
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ class FriendsBox(SpreadBox, hippo.CanvasItem):
 		friends.connect('friend-added', self._friend_added_cb)
 		friends.connect('friend-removed', self._friend_removed_cb)
 
-		gobject.idle_add(self.spread)
-
 	def add_friend(self, buddy_info):
 		icon = FriendView(self._shell, self._menu_shell, buddy_info)
 		self.add(icon)
diff --git a/shell/view/home/HomeWindow.py b/shell/view/home/HomeWindow.py
index 6cd2c404..af38fd09 100644
--- a/shell/view/home/HomeWindow.py
+++ b/shell/view/home/HomeWindow.py
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ class HomeWindow(gtk.Window):
 		gtk.Window.__init__(self)
 		self._shell = shell
 
+		self.set_default_size(gtk.gdk.screen_width(),
+							  gtk.gdk.screen_height())
+
 		self.realize()
 		self.window.set_type_hint(gtk.gdk.WINDOW_TYPE_HINT_DESKTOP)
 
diff --git a/shell/view/home/MeshBox.py b/shell/view/home/MeshBox.py
index be47f7e9..b7a13c4b 100644
--- a/shell/view/home/MeshBox.py
+++ b/shell/view/home/MeshBox.py
@@ -65,8 +65,6 @@ class MeshBox(SpreadBox):
 		self._model.connect('activity-added', self._activity_added_cb)
 		self._model.connect('activity-removed', self._activity_removed_cb)
 
-		gobject.idle_add(self.spread)
-
 	def _buddy_added_cb(self, model, buddy_model):
 		self._add_alone_buddy(buddy_model)
 
diff --git a/sugar/graphics/spreadbox.py b/sugar/graphics/spreadbox.py
index b9d07d45..6e96e532 100644
--- a/sugar/graphics/spreadbox.py
+++ b/sugar/graphics/spreadbox.py
@@ -19,21 +19,6 @@ class SpreadBox(hippo.CanvasBox, hippo.CanvasItem):
 	def add(self, item):
 		self._items_to_position.append(item)
 		self.append(item, hippo.PACK_FIXED)
-		if self._spread_on_add:
-			self.spread()
-
-	def spread(self):
-		self._spread_on_add = True
-
-		[width, height] = self.get_allocation()
-		for item in self._items_to_position:
-			x = int(random.random() * width)
-			y = int(random.random() * height)
-
-			[x, y] = self._clamp_position(item, x, y)
-			self.move(item, x, y)
-
-		self._items_to_position = []
 
 	def _get_distance(self, icon1, icon2):
 		[icon1_x, icon1_y] = self.get_position(icon1)
@@ -57,8 +42,7 @@ class SpreadBox(hippo.CanvasBox, hippo.CanvasItem):
 		x = max(0, x)
 		y = max(0, y)
 
-		item_w = icon.get_width_request()
-		item_h = icon.get_height_request(item_w)
+		[item_w, item_h] = icon.get_request()
 		[box_w, box_h] = self.get_allocation()
 
 		x = min(box_w - item_w, x)
@@ -94,6 +78,17 @@ class SpreadBox(hippo.CanvasBox, hippo.CanvasItem):
 	def do_allocate(self, width, height):
 		hippo.CanvasBox.do_allocate(self, width, height)
 
+		for item in self._items_to_position:
+			[item_w, item_h] = item.get_request()
+
+			x = int(random.random() * width - item_w)
+			y = int(random.random() * height - item_h)
+
+			[x, y] = self._clamp_position(item, x, y)
+			self.move(item, x, y)
+
+		self._items_to_position = []
+
 		tries = 10
 		self._spread_icons()
 		while not self._stable and tries > 0:
diff --git a/tests/test-spread-box.py b/tests/test-spread-box.py
index 6a81834b..e503a451 100755
--- a/tests/test-spread-box.py
+++ b/tests/test-spread-box.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def _create_icon():
 					  icon_name='stock-buddy')
 	box.add(icon)
 
-	return (len(box.get_children()) < 20)
+	return (len(box.get_children()) < 15)
 
 window = gtk.Window()
 window.connect("destroy", lambda w: gtk.main_quit())
@@ -35,10 +35,9 @@ canvas = hippo.Canvas()
 
 box = SpreadBox(background_color=0xe2e2e2ff)
 canvas.set_root(box)
-box.spread()
 
-canvas.show()
 window.add(canvas)
+canvas.show()
 
 gobject.timeout_add(500, _create_icon)