diff --git a/tests/controls/richtextctrltest.cpp b/tests/controls/richtextctrltest.cpp
index f3813de3c5..f1e1cc7ca4 100644
--- a/tests/controls/richtextctrltest.cpp
+++ b/tests/controls/richtextctrltest.cpp
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE_NAMED_REGISTRATION( RichTextCtrlTestCase, "RichTextCtrlTestCa
 void RichTextCtrlTestCase::setUp()
 {
     m_rich = new wxRichTextCtrl(wxTheApp->GetTopWindow(), wxID_ANY, "",
-                                wxDefaultPosition, wxSize(400, 200));
+                                wxDefaultPosition, wxSize(400, 200), wxWANTS_CHARS);
 }
 
 void RichTextCtrlTestCase::tearDown()