diff --git a/pmd/src/net/sourceforge/pmd/util/designer/CreateXMLRulePanel.java b/pmd/src/net/sourceforge/pmd/util/designer/CreateXMLRulePanel.java
index 44321a19b1..b5783527e1 100644
--- a/pmd/src/net/sourceforge/pmd/util/designer/CreateXMLRulePanel.java
+++ b/pmd/src/net/sourceforge/pmd/util/designer/CreateXMLRulePanel.java
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ public class CreateXMLRulePanel extends JPanel implements ActionListener {
         gbc.gridx = 1;
         gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.WEST;
         gbc.weightx = 0.5;
+        ruledescField.setLineWrap(true);
         gbl.setConstraints(ruledescField, gbc);
         add(ruledescField);