diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 58928ee39..99ee43fd3 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ Bugs
    .taskrc file (thanks to Pietro Cerutti).
  + Fixed bug with 'socm' date calculation that failed on some days, by
    simplifying the implementation.
+ + Fix a bug where 'print.empty.columns=no' resulted in never printing the
+   project column.
+
 
 ------ old releases ------------------------------
 
diff --git a/src/text.cpp b/src/text.cpp
index aff701ab8..99f5da43a 100644
--- a/src/text.cpp
+++ b/src/text.cpp
@@ -264,6 +264,9 @@ int longestWord (const std::string& input)
       length += mk_wcwidth (character);
   }
 
+  if (length > longest)
+    longest = length;
+
   return longest;
 }
 
diff --git a/test/feature.print.empty.columns.t b/test/feature.print.empty.columns.t
index b4fa99827..ddcd947ab 100755
--- a/test/feature.print.empty.columns.t
+++ b/test/feature.print.empty.columns.t
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 use strict;
 use warnings;
-use Test::More tests => 4;
+use Test::More tests => 6;
 
 # Create the rc file.
 if (open my $fh, '>', 'bug.rc')
@@ -41,13 +41,20 @@ if (open my $fh, '>', 'bug.rc')
 
 # Feature: variable to control printing of empty columns
 qx{../src/task rc:bug.rc add sample desc 2>&1};
+qx{../src/task rc:bug.rc add withP project:house 2>&1};
 
-my $output = qx{../src/task test rc:bug.rc 2>&1};
+my $output = qx{../src/task test sample rc:bug.rc 2>&1};
 like ($output, qr/Project/, 'empty \'project\' column is printed by default');
 
-$output = qx{../src/task test rc.print.empty.columns:no rc:bug.rc 2>&1};
+$output = qx{../src/task test sample rc.print.empty.columns:no rc:bug.rc 2>&1};
 unlike ($output, qr/Project/, 'empty \'project\' column is not printed if rc.print.empty.columns:no');
 
+$output = qx{../src/task test rc:bug.rc 2>&1};
+like ($output, qr/Project/, 'non-empty \'project\' column is printed by default');
+
+$output = qx{../src/task test rc.print.empty.columns:no rc:bug.rc 2>&1};
+like ($output, qr/Project/, 'non-empty \'project\' column is printed if rc.print.empty.columns:no');
+
 # Cleanup.
 unlink qw(pending.data completed.data undo.data backlog.data synch.key bug.rc);
 ok (! -r 'pending.data'   &&