diff --git a/data/theme/gnome-shell.css b/data/theme/gnome-shell.css
index bf18b0533..b2c816f4c 100644
--- a/data/theme/gnome-shell.css
+++ b/data/theme/gnome-shell.css
@@ -206,6 +206,10 @@ StTooltip {
     -shell-close-overlap: 16px;
 }
 
+.single-view-controls {
+    padding: 0px 15px;
+}
+
 .workspace-controls {
     width: 24px;
     height: 16px;
diff --git a/js/ui/workspacesView.js b/js/ui/workspacesView.js
index 450e36c33..e129a76d0 100644
--- a/js/ui/workspacesView.js
+++ b/js/ui/workspacesView.js
@@ -744,7 +744,9 @@ SingleView.prototype = {
     },
 
     createControllerBar: function() {
-        let panel = new St.BoxLayout({ 'pack-start': true, vertical: true });
+        let panel = new St.BoxLayout({ style_class: 'single-view-controls',
+                                       pack_start: true,
+                                       vertical: true });
 
         let actor = new St.BoxLayout({ 'pack-start': true });
         let active = global.screen.get_active_workspace_index();