diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 8b1af016c..a1852432a 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+2007-10-03 Benny Malengier <benny.malengier@gramps-project.org> 
+	* src/Spell.py: add gtkspell bug workaround, see eg issue 1272, 1091, ...
+
 2007-10-03 Benny Malengier <benny.malengier@gramps-project.org> 
 	* src/PageView.py: correct bug not going to bookmark if no active person
 	* src/DataViews/_MediaView.py:
diff --git a/src/Spell.py b/src/Spell.py
index 5165689b0..9a4a934a7 100644
--- a/src/Spell.py
+++ b/src/Spell.py
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ try:
         print _("Spelling checker cannot be used without language set.")
         print _("Set your locale appropriately to use spelling checker.")
     else:
-        gtkspell.Spell(gtk.TextView()).set_language(lang)
+        #work around gtkspell bug with tv
+        tv = gtk.TextView()
+        gtkspell.Spell(tv).set_language(lang)
         success = True
 except ImportError, msg:
     print _("Spelling checker is not installed")