diff --git a/src/message_textview.py b/src/message_textview.py
index f81025bc0..77b3b506b 100644
--- a/src/message_textview.py
+++ b/src/message_textview.py
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ class MessageTextView(gtk.TextView):
 		)
 		
 	def __init__(self):
+		# set properties
+		self.set_border_width(1)
+		self.set_accepts_tab(True)
+		self.set_editable(True)
+		self.set_cursor_visible(True)
+		self.set_wrap_mode(gtk.WRAP_WORD)
 		self.set_left_margin(2)
 		self.set_right_margin(2)
 		self.set_pixels_above_lines(2)