diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/contextPane.js b/chrome/content/zotero/contextPane.js
index c3ec88c34d..2d364b9016 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/contextPane.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/contextPane.js
@@ -211,7 +211,10 @@ var ZoteroContextPane = new function () {
 					}
 				
 					_contextPaneSplitter.setAttribute('hidden', false);
-					_contextPane.setAttribute('collapsed', !(_contextPaneSplitter.getAttribute('state') != 'collapsed'));
+					// It seems that on heavy load (i.e. syncing) the line below doesn't set the correct value
+					setTimeout(() => {
+						_contextPane.setAttribute('collapsed', !(_contextPaneSplitter.getAttribute('state') != 'collapsed'));
+					});
 					_tabToolbar.hidden = false;
 				}
 				
diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/zoteroPane.xul b/chrome/content/zotero/zoteroPane.xul
index f548ea976f..d096fba177 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/zoteroPane.xul
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/zoteroPane.xul
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@
 							</splitter>
 		
 							<!-- itemPane.xul -->
-							<vbox id="zotero-item-pane" zotero-persist="width height"/>
+							<vbox id="zotero-item-pane" zotero-persist="width height" height="300"/>
 						</box>
 					</hbox>
 				</vbox>
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@
 							  orient="vertical"
 							  collapse="after"
 							  zotero-persist="state"
-							  resizebefore="clsest"
+							  resizebefore="closest"
 							  resizeafter="closest"
 							  onmousemove="ZoteroContextPane.update()"
 							  oncommand="ZoteroContextPane.update()"