diff --git a/src/Basemenu.cc b/src/Basemenu.cc
index 25a941cb..cd3dbe7f 100644
--- a/src/Basemenu.cc
+++ b/src/Basemenu.cc
@@ -611,9 +611,13 @@ void Basemenu::drawItem(int index, bool highlight, bool clear,
       dooppsel = False;
   }
 
+#ifdef    XFT
   if (dotext)
-    XClearArea(display, menu.frame, text_x, text_y, text_w, text_h,
+    XClearArea(display, menu.frame, text_x, text_y , 
+               text_w + style->f_font->offset(), 
+               text_h + style->f_font->offset(),
                False);
+#endif // XFT
 
   if (dohilite && highlight && (menu.hilite_pixmap != ParentRelative)) {
     if (menu.hilite_pixmap)