diff --git a/cde/programs/dtappbuilder/src/ab/abobj_set.c b/cde/programs/dtappbuilder/src/ab/abobj_set.c
index 56360abdc..a45870493 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtappbuilder/src/ab/abobj_set.c
+++ b/cde/programs/dtappbuilder/src/ab/abobj_set.c
@@ -1064,9 +1064,7 @@ abobj_set_num_columns(
 	    (obj_is_text(obj) || obj_is_term_pane(obj)))
 	{
 	    objxm_obj_set_ui_arg(subObj, AB_ARG_INT, XmNcolumns, num_cols);
-/*
-            obj_clear_flag(obj, InstantiatedFlag);
-*/
+	    if (obj_is_text(obj)) obj_clear_flag(obj, InstantiatedFlag);
             obj_clear_flag(subObj, InstantiatedFlag);
 	}
 	else if (obj_is_choice(obj))