diff --git a/tailbone/subscribers.py b/tailbone/subscribers.py
index ff4527e7..7d81b5b1 100644
--- a/tailbone/subscribers.py
+++ b/tailbone/subscribers.py
@@ -132,6 +132,17 @@ def before_render(event):
             renderer_globals['background_color'] = request.rattail_config.get(
                 'tailbone', 'background_color')
 
+        # here we globally declare widths for grid filter pseudo-columns
+        widths = request.rattail_config.get('tailbone', 'grids.filters.column_widths')
+        if widths:
+            widths = widths.split(';')
+            if len(widths) < 2:
+                widths = None
+        if not widths:
+            widths = ['15em', '15em']
+        renderer_globals['filter_fieldname_width'] = widths[0]
+        renderer_globals['filter_verb_width'] = widths[1]
+
 
 def add_inbox_count(event):
     """
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/grids/buefy.mako b/tailbone/templates/grids/buefy.mako
index b56ddcae..220bb020 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/grids/buefy.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/grids/buefy.mako
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   <div class="level filter" v-show="filter.visible">
     <div class="level-left">
 
-      <div class="level-item">
+      <div class="level-item filter-fieldname">
 
         <b-field>
           <b-checkbox-button v-model="filter.active" native-value="IGNORED">
@@ -16,10 +16,11 @@
 
       </div>
 
-      <b-field grouped v-show="filter.active" custom-class="level-item">
+      <b-field grouped v-show="filter.active" class="level-item">
 
         <b-select v-model="filter.verb"
-                  @input="focusValue()">
+                  @input="focusValue()"
+                  class="filter-verb">
           <option v-for="verb in filter.verbs"
                   :key="verb"
                   :value="verb">
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/themes/falafel/base.mako b/tailbone/templates/themes/falafel/base.mako
index 6478fe36..fea80462 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/themes/falafel/base.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/themes/falafel/base.mako
@@ -338,6 +338,16 @@
   ${h.stylesheet_link(request.static_url('tailbone:static/themes/falafel/css/filters.css') + '?ver={}'.format(tailbone.__version__))}
   ${h.stylesheet_link(request.static_url('tailbone:static/themes/bobcat/css/forms.css') + '?ver={}'.format(tailbone.__version__))}
   ${h.stylesheet_link(request.static_url('tailbone:static/css/diffs.css') + '?ver={}'.format(tailbone.__version__))}
+
+  <style type="text/css">
+    .filters .filter-fieldname {
+        min-width: ${filter_fieldname_width};
+        justify-content: left;
+    }
+    .filters .filter-verb {
+        min-width: ${filter_verb_width};
+    }
+  </style>
 </%def>
 
 <%def name="buefy_styles()">