diff --git a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.ui/UI/org/eclipse/rse/ui/messages/SystemMessageLine.java b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.ui/UI/org/eclipse/rse/ui/messages/SystemMessageLine.java
index 1aa045ece59..0ce5fe60edc 100644
--- a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.ui/UI/org/eclipse/rse/ui/messages/SystemMessageLine.java
+++ b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.ui/UI/org/eclipse/rse/ui/messages/SystemMessageLine.java
@@ -569,6 +569,7 @@ public class SystemMessageLine
 		widget.setForeground(color);
 		widget.setText(text);
 		widget.setData(text);
+		widget.setVisible(text.length() > 0);
 		adjustText();
 	}