diff --git a/lib/wibox/widget/base.lua b/lib/wibox/widget/base.lua
index d2d3a056e..8006aca5b 100644
--- a/lib/wibox/widget/base.lua
+++ b/lib/wibox/widget/base.lua
@@ -51,6 +51,28 @@ function base.widget:set_opacity(o)
     end
 end
 
+--- Set the widget's width
+-- @tparam number|nil s The width that the widget has. `nil` means to apply the
+-- default mechanism of calling the `:fit` method. A number overrides the result
+-- from `:fit`.
+function base.widget:set_width(s)
+    if s ~= self._forced_width then
+        self._forced_width = s
+        self:emit_signal("widget::layout_changed")
+    end
+end
+
+--- Set the widget's height
+-- @tparam number|nil s The height that the widget has. `nil` means to apply the
+-- default mechanism of calling the `:fit` method. A number overrides the result
+-- from `:fit`.
+function base.widget:set_height(s)
+    if s ~= self._forced_height then
+        self._forced_height = s
+        self:emit_signal("widget::layout_changed")
+    end
+end
+
 -- }}}
 
 -- {{{ Caches
@@ -141,6 +163,10 @@ function base.fit_widget(parent, context, widget, width, height)
         end
     end
 
+    -- Apply forced size
+    w = widget._forced_width or w
+    h = widget._forced_height or h
+
     -- Also sanitize the output.
     w = math.max(0, math.min(w, width))
     h = math.max(0, math.min(h, height))
@@ -394,6 +420,10 @@ function base.make_widget(proxy, widget_name)
     -- Widget is fully opaque
     ret.opacity = 1
 
+    -- Size is not restricted/forced
+    ret._forced_width = nil
+    ret._forced_height = nil
+
     -- Make buttons work
     ret:connect_signal("button::press", function(...)
         return base.handle_button("press", ...)