diff --git a/kdeplasma-addons/applets/kolourpicker/kolourpicker.cpp b/kdeplasma-addons/applets/kolourpicker/kolourpicker.cpp
index d6b01293..8b3490b3 100644
--- a/kdeplasma-addons/applets/kolourpicker/kolourpicker.cpp
+++ b/kdeplasma-addons/applets/kolourpicker/kolourpicker.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@
 #  include <QX11Info>
 #endif
 
+// standard issue margin/spacing
+static const int s_margin = 6;
+
 static KMenu* buildMenuForColor(const QColor &color)
 {
     KMenu *menu = new KMenu();
@@ -135,7 +138,12 @@ QIcon ColorButton::colorIcon() const
 void ColorButton::updateColorPixmap()
 {
     const QSizeF sizef = Plasma::ToolButton::size();
-    const int minsize = qRound(qMin(sizef.width(), sizef.height())) - 4;
+    const int minsize = qRound(qMin(sizef.width(), sizef.height())) - s_margin;
+    if (minsize < s_margin) {
+        // would issue a warning but will be way too much on e.g. resize
+        m_colorpix = QPixmap();
+        return;
+    }
     m_colorpix = QPixmap(QSize(minsize, minsize));
     m_colorpix.fill(QColor(Qt::transparent));
     QPainter p(&m_colorpix);