diff --git a/contrib/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp b/contrib/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
index 5590ded11e..2e3f3e4908 100644
--- a/contrib/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
+++ b/contrib/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@ wxObject* wxSizerXmlHandler::Handle_sizeritem()
     {
         // create a sizer item for it
         wxSizerItem* sitem = MakeSizerItem();
-        SetSizerItemAttributes(sitem);
         
         // now fetch the item to be managed
         bool old_gbs = m_isGBS;
@@ -146,6 +145,9 @@ wxObject* wxSizerXmlHandler::Handle_sizeritem()
         else 
             wxLogError(wxT("Error in resource."));
 
+        // finally, set other wxSizerItem attributes
+        SetSizerItemAttributes(sitem);
+
         AddSizerItem(sitem);
         return item;
     }
@@ -339,7 +341,7 @@ void wxSizerXmlHandler::SetSizerItemAttributes(wxSizerItem* sitem)
     sitem->SetBorder(GetDimension(wxT("border")));
     wxSize sz = GetSize(wxT("minsize"));
     if (!(sz == wxDefaultSize))
-        sitem->SetInitSize(sz.x, sz.y);
+        sitem->SetMinSize(sz);
     sz = GetSize(wxT("ratio"));
     if (!(sz == wxDefaultSize))
         sitem->SetRatio(sz);
diff --git a/include/wx/sizer.h b/include/wx/sizer.h
index eeed12325b..5f7738dce2 100644
--- a/include/wx/sizer.h
+++ b/include/wx/sizer.h
@@ -74,8 +74,16 @@ public:
 
     wxSize GetMinSize() const
         { return m_minSize; }
+    void SetMinSize(const wxSize& size)
+        {
+            if (IsWindow() && !(m_flag & wxFIXED_MINSIZE))
+                m_window->SetSizeHints(size);
+            m_minSize = size;            
+        }
+    void SetMinSize( int x, int y )
+        { SetMinSize(wxSize(x, y)); }    
     void SetInitSize( int x, int y )
-        { m_minSize.x = x; m_minSize.y = y; }
+        { SetMinSize(wxSize(x, y)); }
 
     void SetRatio( int width, int height )
         // if either of dimensions is zero, ratio is assumed to be 1
diff --git a/src/common/sizer.cpp b/src/common/sizer.cpp
index 424968309f..2fd2d9f854 100644
--- a/src/common/sizer.cpp
+++ b/src/common/sizer.cpp
@@ -735,8 +735,7 @@ bool wxSizer::DoSetItemMinSize( wxWindow *window, int width, int height )
 
         if (item->GetWindow() == window)
         {
-            item->SetInitSize( width, height );
-            item->GetWindow()->SetSizeHints(width, height);
+            item->SetMinSize( width, height );
             return true;
         }
         node = node->GetNext();
@@ -815,9 +814,7 @@ bool wxSizer::DoSetItemMinSize( size_t index, int width, int height )
     else
     {
         // ... but the minimal size of spacers and windows in stored in them
-        item->SetInitSize( width, height );
-        if (item->GetWindow())
-            item->GetWindow()->SetSizeHints(width, height);
+        item->SetMinSize( width, height );
     }
 
     return true;
diff --git a/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp b/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
index 5590ded11e..2e3f3e4908 100644
--- a/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
+++ b/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@ wxObject* wxSizerXmlHandler::Handle_sizeritem()
     {
         // create a sizer item for it
         wxSizerItem* sitem = MakeSizerItem();
-        SetSizerItemAttributes(sitem);
         
         // now fetch the item to be managed
         bool old_gbs = m_isGBS;
@@ -146,6 +145,9 @@ wxObject* wxSizerXmlHandler::Handle_sizeritem()
         else 
             wxLogError(wxT("Error in resource."));
 
+        // finally, set other wxSizerItem attributes
+        SetSizerItemAttributes(sitem);
+
         AddSizerItem(sitem);
         return item;
     }
@@ -339,7 +341,7 @@ void wxSizerXmlHandler::SetSizerItemAttributes(wxSizerItem* sitem)
     sitem->SetBorder(GetDimension(wxT("border")));
     wxSize sz = GetSize(wxT("minsize"));
     if (!(sz == wxDefaultSize))
-        sitem->SetInitSize(sz.x, sz.y);
+        sitem->SetMinSize(sz);
     sz = GetSize(wxT("ratio"));
     if (!(sz == wxDefaultSize))
         sitem->SetRatio(sz);