diff --git a/data/theme/gnome-shell.css b/data/theme/gnome-shell.css
index dac6f631c..ca39e4906 100644
--- a/data/theme/gnome-shell.css
+++ b/data/theme/gnome-shell.css
@@ -511,8 +511,6 @@ StTooltip StLabel {
 
 .dash-placeholder {
     background-image: url("dash-placeholder.svg");
-    height: 27px;
-    width: 48px;
 }
 
 #viewSelector {
diff --git a/js/ui/dash.js b/js/ui/dash.js
index e96ae9eeb..7f23cc68b 100644
--- a/js/ui/dash.js
+++ b/js/ui/dash.js
@@ -684,6 +684,8 @@ Dash.prototype = {
             }
 
             this._dragPlaceholder = new DragPlaceholderItem();
+            this._dragPlaceholder.child.set_width (this.iconSize);
+            this._dragPlaceholder.child.set_height (this.iconSize / 2);
             this._box.insert_actor(this._dragPlaceholder.actor,
                                    this._dragPlaceholderPos);
             if (fadeIn)