diff --git a/js/ui/sidebar.js b/js/ui/sidebar.js
index 0afd8d8db..e85cad079 100644
--- a/js/ui/sidebar.js
+++ b/js/ui/sidebar.js
@@ -14,10 +14,12 @@ const WidgetBox = imports.ui.widgetBox;
 const SIDEBAR_SPACING = 4;
 const SIDEBAR_PADDING = 4;
 
-// The total sidebar width is the widget width plus the widget
-// padding, plus the sidebar padding
-const SIDEBAR_COLLAPSED_WIDTH = Widget.COLLAPSED_WIDTH + 2 * WidgetBox.WIDGETBOX_PADDING + 2 * SIDEBAR_PADDING;
-const SIDEBAR_EXPANDED_WIDTH = Widget.EXPANDED_WIDTH + 2 * WidgetBox.WIDGETBOX_PADDING + 2 * SIDEBAR_PADDING;
+// The total sidebar width is the widget width plus the widget padding
+// (counted twice for the widget box, and once again for the
+// out-of-screen padding), plus the empty space between the border of
+// the bar and of the windows
+const SIDEBAR_COLLAPSED_WIDTH = Widget.COLLAPSED_WIDTH + 3 * WidgetBox.WIDGETBOX_PADDING + SIDEBAR_PADDING;
+const SIDEBAR_EXPANDED_WIDTH = Widget.EXPANDED_WIDTH + 3 * WidgetBox.WIDGETBOX_PADDING + SIDEBAR_PADDING;
 
 // The maximum height of the sidebar would be extending from just
 // below the panel to just above the taskbar. Since the taskbar is
@@ -58,7 +60,7 @@ Sidebar.prototype = {
         // during the animation.
         this.box = new Big.Box ({ padding_top: SIDEBAR_PADDING,
                                   padding_bottom: SIDEBAR_PADDING,
-                                  padding_right: SIDEBAR_PADDING,
+                                  padding_right: 0,
                                   padding_left: 0,
                                   spacing: SIDEBAR_SPACING });
         this.actor.add_actor(this.box);
diff --git a/js/ui/widgetBox.js b/js/ui/widgetBox.js
index 78baf86b4..50e16d599 100644
--- a/js/ui/widgetBox.js
+++ b/js/ui/widgetBox.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ WIDGETBOX_BG_COLOR.from_pixel(0xf0f0f0ff);
 const BLACK = new Clutter.Color();
 BLACK.from_pixel(0x000000ff);
 
-const WIDGETBOX_PADDING = 4;
+const WIDGETBOX_PADDING = 2;
 const ANIMATION_TIME = 0.5;
 const POP_IN_LAG = 250; /* milliseconds */
 
@@ -77,9 +77,15 @@ WidgetBox.prototype = {
 
         this.actor = new Clutter.Group();
         this._hbox = new Big.Box({ background_color: WIDGETBOX_BG_COLOR,
-                                   padding: WIDGETBOX_PADDING,
+                                   padding_top: WIDGETBOX_PADDING,
+                                   padding_bottom: WIDGETBOX_PADDING,
+                                   padding_right: WIDGETBOX_PADDING,
+                                   // Left padding is here to make up for
+                                   // the X offset used for the sidebar
+                                   // to hide its rounded corners
+                                   padding_left: 2 * WIDGETBOX_PADDING,
                                    spacing: WIDGETBOX_PADDING,
-                                   corner_radius: WIDGETBOX_PADDING / 2,
+                                   corner_radius: WIDGETBOX_PADDING,
                                    orientation: Big.BoxOrientation.HORIZONTAL,
                                    reactive: true });
         this.actor.add_actor(this._hbox);