diff --git a/src/develop/imageop.c b/src/develop/imageop.c
index 890f9bb17201..c636ba106c44 100644
--- a/src/develop/imageop.c
+++ b/src/develop/imageop.c
@@ -2888,7 +2888,7 @@ static gboolean _on_drag_motion(GtkWidget *widget, GdkDragContext *dc, gint x, g
 
   if(!src || !dest || dest == src) return FALSE;
 
-  if(x != -1)
+  if(x != DND_DROP)
   {
     if(!(src->iop_order < dest->iop_order
          ? dt_ioppr_check_can_move_after_iop(darktable.develop->iop, src, dest)
@@ -2932,7 +2932,7 @@ static gboolean _on_drag_motion(GtkWidget *widget, GdkDragContext *dc, gint x, g
 
 static gboolean _on_drag_drop(GtkWidget *widget, GdkDragContext *dc, gint x, gint y, guint time, dt_iop_module_t *module)
 {
-  return _on_drag_motion(widget, dc, -1, y, time, module);
+  return _on_drag_motion(widget, dc, DND_DROP, y, time, module);
 }
 
 void dt_iop_gui_set_expander(dt_iop_module_t *module)
diff --git a/src/dtgtk/range.c b/src/dtgtk/range.c
index 833d011f1df5..b6c80e9348f0 100644
--- a/src/dtgtk/range.c
+++ b/src/dtgtk/range.c
@@ -1724,18 +1724,16 @@ GtkWidget *dtgtk_range_select_new(const gchar *property, const gboolean show_ent
     gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(vbox), hbox, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
 
     // the entries
-    range->entry_min = gtk_entry_new();
+    range->entry_min = dt_ui_entry_new();
     gtk_widget_set_can_default(range->entry_min, TRUE);
-    gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(range->entry_min), 0);
     _entry_set_tooltip(range->entry_min, BOUND_MIN, range->type);
     g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(range->entry_min), "activate", G_CALLBACK(_event_entry_activated), range);
     g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(range->entry_min), "focus-out-event", G_CALLBACK(_event_entry_focus_out), range);
     g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(range->entry_min), "button-press-event", G_CALLBACK(_event_entry_press), range);
     gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(hbox), range->entry_min, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
 
-    range->entry_max = gtk_entry_new();
+    range->entry_max = dt_ui_entry_new();
     gtk_widget_set_can_default(range->entry_max, TRUE);
-    gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(range->entry_max), 0);
     gtk_entry_set_alignment(GTK_ENTRY(range->entry_max), 1.0);
     _entry_set_tooltip(range->entry_max, BOUND_MAX, range->type);
     g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(range->entry_max), "activate", G_CALLBACK(_event_entry_activated), range);
diff --git a/src/gui/accelerators.c b/src/gui/accelerators.c
index ec9f349cdcb8..96c37f47bc73 100644
--- a/src/gui/accelerators.c
+++ b/src/gui/accelerators.c
@@ -5160,7 +5160,7 @@ GtkWidget *dt_action_entry_new(dt_action_t *ac,
                                const gchar *tooltip,
                                const gchar *text)
 {
-  GtkWidget *entry = gtk_entry_new();
+  GtkWidget *entry = dt_ui_entry_new();
   gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(entry), 5);
   if(text)
     gtk_entry_set_text (GTK_ENTRY(entry), text);
diff --git a/src/gui/drag_and_drop.h b/src/gui/drag_and_drop.h
index 146173da7be3..e3bcaff8f680 100644
--- a/src/gui/drag_and_drop.h
+++ b/src/gui/drag_and_drop.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #define _BYTE 8
 #define _WORD 16
 #define _DWORD 32
+#define DND_DROP -1
 
 /* common for all the drag&drop sources/destinations */
 enum
diff --git a/src/gui/gtk.c b/src/gui/gtk.c
index 5238cb00d195..e4aba5ad8c8a 100644
--- a/src/gui/gtk.c
+++ b/src/gui/gtk.c
@@ -2240,6 +2240,36 @@ static gboolean _ui_init_panel_container_center_scroll_event(GtkWidget *widget,
           != dt_conf_get_bool("darkroom/ui/sidebar_scroll_default"));
 }
 
+static gboolean _on_drag_motion_drop(GtkWidget *widget, GdkDragContext *dc, gint x, gint y, guint time, gboolean drop)
+{
+  if(drop) gtk_widget_set_opacity(gtk_drag_get_source_widget(dc), 1.0);
+
+  gboolean ret = TRUE;
+  gpointer last = NULL;
+  for(GList *m = gtk_container_get_children(GTK_CONTAINER(widget)); m; m = g_list_delete_link(m, m))
+    if(gtk_widget_get_visible(GTK_WIDGET(m->data))) last = m->data;
+  if(last)
+    g_signal_emit_by_name(last, "drag-motion", dc, drop ? -1 : x, y, time, &ret);
+  else if(drop)
+  {
+    // drop in empty panel; dragged expander handles its own move; pass destination panel in dc
+    GtkWidget *src_expander = gtk_widget_get_ancestor
+      (gtk_drag_get_source_widget(dc), DTGTK_TYPE_EXPANDER);
+    if(src_expander)
+      g_signal_emit_by_name(src_expander, "drag-motion", widget, x, y, time, &ret);
+  }
+  else
+    gdk_drag_status(dc, GDK_ACTION_COPY, time);
+
+  return ret;
+}
+
+static void _on_drag_leave(GtkDarktableExpander *widget, GdkDragContext *dc, guint time, gpointer user_data)
+{
+  for(GList *m = gtk_container_get_children(GTK_CONTAINER(widget)); m; m = g_list_delete_link(m, m))
+    dtgtk_expander_set_drag_hover(m->data, FALSE, FALSE);
+}
+
 static GtkWidget *_ui_init_panel_container_center(GtkWidget *container,
                                                   const gboolean left)
 {
@@ -2286,6 +2316,10 @@ static GtkWidget *_ui_init_panel_container_center(GtkWidget *container,
   widget = gtk_box_new(GTK_ORIENTATION_VERTICAL, 0);
   gtk_widget_set_name(widget, "plugins_vbox_left");
   gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(container), widget);
+  gtk_drag_dest_set(widget, 0, NULL, 0, GDK_ACTION_COPY);
+  g_signal_connect(widget, "drag-motion", G_CALLBACK(_on_drag_motion_drop), GINT_TO_POINTER(FALSE));
+  g_signal_connect(widget, "drag-drop", G_CALLBACK(_on_drag_motion_drop), GINT_TO_POINTER(TRUE));
+  g_signal_connect(widget, "drag-leave", G_CALLBACK(_on_drag_leave), NULL);
 
   return widget;
 }
@@ -3491,6 +3525,7 @@ GtkNotebook *dt_ui_notebook_new(dt_action_def_t *def)
     def->process = _action_process_tabs;
   }
 
+  gtk_drag_dest_unset(GTK_WIDGET(_current_notebook));
   return _current_notebook;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/gtk.h b/src/gui/gtk.h
index 08b9179f5d4d..7c1e66188e04 100644
--- a/src/gui/gtk.h
+++ b/src/gui/gtk.h
@@ -410,6 +410,14 @@ static inline GtkWidget *dt_ui_label_new(const gchar *str)
   return label;
 };
 
+static inline GtkWidget *dt_ui_entry_new()
+{
+  GtkWidget *entry = gtk_entry_new();
+  gtk_drag_dest_unset(entry);
+  gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(entry), 0);
+  return entry;
+};
+
 extern const struct dt_action_def_t dt_action_def_tabs_all_rgb;
 extern const struct dt_action_def_t dt_action_def_tabs_rgb;
 extern const struct dt_action_def_t dt_action_def_tabs_none;
diff --git a/src/libs/camera.c b/src/libs/camera.c
index d462466359e6..203223e0d889 100644
--- a/src/libs/camera.c
+++ b/src/libs/camera.c
@@ -496,8 +496,7 @@ void gui_init(dt_lib_module_t *self)
 
   label = gtk_label_new(_("label"));
   gtk_widget_set_halign(label, GTK_ALIGN_START);
-  lib->gui.plabel = gtk_entry_new();
-  gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(lib->gui.plabel), 0);
+  lib->gui.plabel = dt_ui_entry_new();
   gtk_grid_attach(GTK_GRID(self->widget), GTK_WIDGET(label), 0, lib->gui.rows++, 1, 1);
   gtk_grid_attach_next_to(GTK_GRID(self->widget), GTK_WIDGET(lib->gui.plabel), GTK_WIDGET(label), GTK_POS_RIGHT, 1, 1);
 
@@ -506,8 +505,7 @@ void gui_init(dt_lib_module_t *self)
   gtk_widget_set_halign(label, GTK_ALIGN_START);
   GtkWidget *widget = gtk_button_new_with_label("O");
   g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(widget), "clicked", G_CALLBACK(_show_property_popupmenu_clicked), lib);
-  lib->gui.pname = gtk_entry_new();
-  gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(lib->gui.pname), 0);
+  lib->gui.pname = dt_ui_entry_new();
   gtk_box_pack_start(hbox, GTK_WIDGET(lib->gui.pname), TRUE, TRUE, 0);
   gtk_box_pack_start(hbox, GTK_WIDGET(widget), FALSE, FALSE, 0);
   gtk_grid_attach(GTK_GRID(self->widget), GTK_WIDGET(label), 0, lib->gui.rows++, 1, 1);
diff --git a/src/libs/collect.c b/src/libs/collect.c
index 73b1a37dfab8..8c3c52d42493 100644
--- a/src/libs/collect.c
+++ b/src/libs/collect.c
@@ -3666,7 +3666,7 @@ void gui_init(dt_lib_module_t *self)
                      G_CALLBACK(combo_changed), d->rule + i);
     gtk_box_pack_start(box, d->rule[i].combo, FALSE, TRUE, 0);
 
-    w = gtk_entry_new();
+    w = dt_ui_entry_new();
     gtk_entry_set_max_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(w), 10);
     d->rule[i].text = w;
     gtk_widget_add_events(w, GDK_FOCUS_CHANGE_MASK);
diff --git a/src/libs/duplicate.c b/src/libs/duplicate.c
index 2f1762299f59..6c17d680e67a 100644
--- a/src/libs/duplicate.c
+++ b/src/libs/duplicate.c
@@ -315,9 +315,8 @@ static void _lib_duplicate_init_callback(gpointer instance, dt_lib_module_t *sel
     gchar *path = (gchar *)sqlite3_column_text(stmt, 2);
     g_snprintf(chl, sizeof(chl), "%d", sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 0));
 
-    GtkWidget *tb = gtk_entry_new();
+    GtkWidget *tb = dt_ui_entry_new();
     if(path) gtk_entry_set_text(GTK_ENTRY(tb), path);
-    gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(tb), 0);
     gtk_widget_set_hexpand(tb, TRUE);
     g_object_set_data (G_OBJECT(tb), "imgid", GINT_TO_POINTER(imgid));
     gtk_widget_add_events(tb, GDK_FOCUS_CHANGE_MASK);
diff --git a/src/libs/filters/filename.c b/src/libs/filters/filename.c
index 67f537430fa4..70b3b2bceacf 100644
--- a/src/libs/filters/filename.c
+++ b/src/libs/filters/filename.c
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ static void _filename_widget_init(dt_lib_filtering_rule_t *rule, const dt_collec
     gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(rule->w_special_box_top), hb, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
   else
     gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(rule->w_special_box), hb, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
-  filename->name = gtk_entry_new();
+  filename->name = dt_ui_entry_new();
   gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(filename->name), (top) ? 10 : 0);
   gtk_widget_set_can_default(filename->name, TRUE);
   gtk_entry_set_placeholder_text(GTK_ENTRY(filename->name), _("filename"));
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ static void _filename_widget_init(dt_lib_filtering_rule_t *rule, const dt_collec
   g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(filename->name), "focus-out-event", G_CALLBACK(_filename_focus_out), filename);
   g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(filename->name), "button-press-event", G_CALLBACK(_filename_press), filename);
 
-  filename->ext = gtk_entry_new();
+  filename->ext = dt_ui_entry_new();
   gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(filename->ext), (top) ? 5 : 0);
   gtk_widget_set_can_default(filename->ext, TRUE);
   gtk_entry_set_placeholder_text(GTK_ENTRY(filename->ext), _("extension"));
diff --git a/src/libs/filters/misc.c b/src/libs/filters/misc.c
index e27c64f48c97..611eef9dcdff 100644
--- a/src/libs/filters/misc.c
+++ b/src/libs/filters/misc.c
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ static void _misc_widget_init(dt_lib_filtering_rule_t *rule,
     gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(rule->w_special_box_top), hb, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
   else
     gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(rule->w_special_box), hb, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
-  misc->name = gtk_entry_new();
+  misc->name = dt_ui_entry_new();
   gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(misc->name), (top) ? 10 : 0);
   gtk_widget_set_can_default(misc->name, TRUE);
 
diff --git a/src/libs/filters/search.c b/src/libs/filters/search.c
index 1f3cafb88841..cad6532e7b27 100644
--- a/src/libs/filters/search.c
+++ b/src/libs/filters/search.c
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ static void _search_widget_init(dt_lib_filtering_rule_t *rule, const dt_collecti
   else
     gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(rule->w_special_box), hbox, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
   search->text = gtk_search_entry_new();
+  gtk_drag_dest_unset(search->text);
   g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(search->text), "search-changed", G_CALLBACK(_search_changed), search);
   g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(search->text), "stop-search", G_CALLBACK(_search_reset_text_entry), rule);
   if(top)
diff --git a/src/libs/geotagging.c b/src/libs/geotagging.c
index 7eb842fc2a63..ba7b70204630 100644
--- a/src/libs/geotagging.c
+++ b/src/libs/geotagging.c
@@ -1496,7 +1496,7 @@ static GtkWidget *_gui_init_datetime(gchar *text, dt_lib_datetime_t *dt, const i
     }
     if(i >= 2 || type != 2)
     {
-      dt->widget[i] = gtk_entry_new();
+      dt->widget[i] = dt_ui_entry_new();
       gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(dt->widget[i]), i == 0 ? 4 : i == 6 ? 3 : 2);
       gtk_entry_set_alignment(GTK_ENTRY(dt->widget[i]), 0.5);
       gtk_box_pack_start(box, dt->widget[i], FALSE, FALSE, 0);
@@ -1772,10 +1772,9 @@ void gui_init(dt_lib_module_t *self)
 
   gtk_grid_attach(grid, label, 0, line, 2, 1);
 
-  d->timezone = gtk_entry_new();
+  d->timezone = dt_ui_entry_new();
   gtk_widget_set_tooltip_text(d->timezone, _("start typing to show a list of permitted values and select your timezone.\npress enter to confirm, so that the asterisk * disappears"));
   d->timezone_changed = dt_ui_label_new("");
-  gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(d->timezone), 0);
 
   GtkWidget *timezone_box = gtk_box_new(GTK_ORIENTATION_HORIZONTAL, 0);
   gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(timezone_box), d->timezone, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
diff --git a/src/libs/lib.c b/src/libs/lib.c
index bc6022429fca..fc037896f9b0 100644
--- a/src/libs/lib.c
+++ b/src/libs/lib.c
@@ -1075,80 +1075,98 @@ static gboolean _on_drag_motion(GtkWidget *widget,
                                 gint x, gint y, guint time,
                                 dt_lib_module_t *dest)
 {
-  GtkWidget *src_widget = gtk_widget_get_ancestor(gtk_drag_get_source_widget(dc),
-                                                  DTGTK_TYPE_EXPANDER);
-
   dt_lib_module_t *src = NULL;
-  for(GList *lib = darktable.lib->plugins; lib; lib = lib->next)
-    if(((dt_lib_module_t *)lib->data)->expander == src_widget)
-      src = lib->data;
+  GtkContainer *src_panel = NULL, *dest_panel = NULL;
+  gboolean below = TRUE;
+  int dest_pos = 0;
 
-  if(!src_widget || !src || dest == src ) return FALSE;
+  if(GTK_IS_BOX(dc))
+  {
+    // propagated from empty panel handler in gtk.c
+    src = dest;
+    src_panel = GTK_CONTAINER(gtk_widget_get_parent(src->expander));
+    dest_panel = GTK_CONTAINER(dc);
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    dtgtk_expander_set_drag_hover(DTGTK_EXPANDER(widget), FALSE, FALSE);
+    gdk_drag_status(dc, 0, time);
 
-  GtkContainer *src_panel = GTK_CONTAINER(gtk_widget_get_parent(src->expander));
-  GtkContainer *dest_panel = GTK_CONTAINER(gtk_widget_get_parent(dest->expander));
+    GtkWidget *src_widget = gtk_widget_get_ancestor(gtk_drag_get_source_widget(dc),
+                                                    DTGTK_TYPE_EXPANDER);
 
-  int src_pos, dest_pos;
-  gtk_container_child_get(src_panel, src->expander, "position", &src_pos, NULL);
-  gtk_container_child_get(dest_panel, dest->expander, "position", &dest_pos, NULL);
+    for(GList *lib = darktable.lib->plugins; lib; lib = lib->next)
+      if(((dt_lib_module_t *)lib->data)->expander == src_widget)
+        src = lib->data;
 
-  GtkDarktableExpander *expander = DTGTK_EXPANDER(dest->expander);
-  gboolean below_is_last_and_collapsed = dest_pos == src_pos + 1
-                                         && !dtgtk_expander_get_expanded(expander)
-                                         && dest_pos == dt_gui_container_num_children(dest_panel) - 1;
-  gboolean below = y > gtk_widget_get_allocated_height(dtgtk_expander_get_header(expander))
-                       / (below_is_last_and_collapsed ? 2 : 1);
-  if(below) dest_pos++;
-  if(dest_pos > src_pos) dest_pos--;
+    if(!src_widget || !src || dest == src ) return TRUE;
 
-  if(dest_panel == src_panel && dest_pos == src_pos) return FALSE;
+    src_panel = GTK_CONTAINER(gtk_widget_get_parent(src->expander));
+    dest_panel = GTK_CONTAINER(gtk_widget_get_parent(dest->expander));
 
-  if(x != -1)
-  {
-    dtgtk_expander_set_drag_hover(DTGTK_EXPANDER(widget), TRUE, below);
+    int src_pos = G_MAXINT;
+    if(dest_panel == src_panel)
+      gtk_container_child_get(src_panel, src->expander, "position", &src_pos, NULL);
+    gtk_container_child_get(dest_panel, dest->expander, "position", &dest_pos, NULL);
 
-    gdk_drag_status(dc, GDK_ACTION_COPY, time);
-  }
-  else
-  {
-    GtkBox *dest_box = GTK_BOX(dest_panel);
-    if(dest_panel != src_panel)
+    GtkDarktableExpander *exp = DTGTK_EXPANDER(dest->expander);
+    int header_height = gtk_widget_get_allocated_height(dtgtk_expander_get_header(exp));
+    below = y > (abs(dest_pos - src_pos) == 1 && !dtgtk_expander_get_expanded(exp)
+                 ? header_height / 2
+                 : dest_pos < src_pos
+                 ? gtk_widget_get_allocated_height(widget) - header_height
+                 : header_height);
+
+    if(below) dest_pos++;
+    if(dest_pos > src_pos) dest_pos--;
+    if(dest_pos == src_pos) return TRUE;
+
+    if(x != DND_DROP)
     {
-      g_object_ref(src->expander);
-      gtk_container_remove(src_panel, src->expander);
-      gtk_box_pack_start(dest_box, src->expander, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+      dtgtk_expander_set_drag_hover(DTGTK_EXPANDER(widget), TRUE, below);
+      gdk_drag_status(dc, GDK_ACTION_COPY, time);
+
+      return TRUE;
     }
-    gtk_box_reorder_child(dest_box, src->expander, dest_pos);
+  }
 
-    GList **list = &darktable.lib->plugins;
-    *list = g_list_remove(*list, src);
+  GtkBox *dest_box = GTK_BOX(dest_panel);
+  if(dest_panel != src_panel)
+  {
+    g_object_ref(src->expander);
+    gtk_container_remove(src_panel, src->expander);
+    gtk_box_pack_start(dest_box, src->expander, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+  }
+  gtk_box_reorder_child(dest_box, src->expander, dest_pos);
 
-    GList *dest_list = g_list_find(*list, dest);
-    if(below)
-      dest = dest_list->prev ? dest_list->prev->data : NULL;
-    else
-      dest_list = dest_list->next;
+  GList **list = &darktable.lib->plugins;
+  *list = g_list_remove(*list, src);
 
-    int new_pos = dest ? ABS(_lib_position(dest)) + 1 : 1;
-    int old_pos = dest_box != dt_ui_get_container(darktable.gui->ui, src->container(src)) ? -1 : +1;
-    dt_lib_module_t *cur = src;
-    while(new_pos >= ABS(old_pos))
-    {
-      gchar *key = _get_lib_view_path(cur, "_position");
-      dt_conf_set_int(key, old_pos < 0 ? -new_pos : new_pos);
-      g_free(key);
+  GList *dest_list = g_list_find(*list, dest);
+  if(below)
+    dest = dest_list && dest_list->prev ? dest_list->prev->data : NULL;
+  else
+    dest_list = dest_list->next;
 
-      if(!dest_list) break;
+  int new_pos = dest ? ABS(_lib_position(dest)) + 1 : 1;
+  int old_pos = dest_box != dt_ui_get_container(darktable.gui->ui, src->container(src)) ? -1 : +1;
+  dt_lib_module_t *cur = src;
+  while(new_pos >= ABS(old_pos))
+  {
+    gchar *key = _get_lib_view_path(cur, "_position");
+    dt_conf_set_int(key, old_pos < 0 ? -new_pos : new_pos);
+    g_free(key);
 
-      new_pos++;
-      cur = dest_list->data;
-      old_pos = _lib_position(cur);
-      dest_list = dest_list->next;
-    }
+    if(!dest_list) break;
 
-    *list = g_list_insert_sorted(*list, src, dt_lib_sort_plugins);
+    new_pos++;
+    cur = dest_list->data;
+    old_pos = _lib_position(cur);
+    dest_list = dest_list->next;
   }
 
+  *list = g_list_insert_sorted(*list, src, dt_lib_sort_plugins);
+
   return TRUE;
 }
 
@@ -1157,7 +1175,7 @@ static gboolean _on_drag_drop(GtkWidget *widget,
                               gint x, gint y, guint time,
                               dt_lib_module_t *dest)
 {
-  return _on_drag_motion(widget, dc, -1, y, time, dest);
+  return _on_drag_motion(widget, dc, DND_DROP, y, time, dest);
 }
 
 GtkWidget *dt_lib_gui_get_expander(dt_lib_module_t *module)
diff --git a/src/libs/location.c b/src/libs/location.c
index 0e9a8a15b012..2600a69c5603 100644
--- a/src/libs/location.c
+++ b/src/libs/location.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ void gui_init(dt_lib_module_t *self)
   self->widget = gtk_box_new(GTK_ORIENTATION_VERTICAL, 0);
 
   /* add search box */
-  lib->search = GTK_ENTRY(gtk_entry_new());
+  lib->search = GTK_ENTRY(dt_ui_entry_new());
   gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(self->widget), GTK_WIDGET(lib->search), FALSE, FALSE, 0);
 
   g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(lib->search), "activate",
diff --git a/src/libs/metadata.c b/src/libs/metadata.c
index 1b7579cac09d..035702bf0787 100644
--- a/src/libs/metadata.c
+++ b/src/libs/metadata.c
@@ -686,6 +686,7 @@ void gui_init(dt_lib_module_t *self)
     gtk_grid_attach(grid, labelev, 0, i, 1, 1);
 
     GtkWidget *textview = gtk_text_view_new();
+    gtk_drag_dest_unset(textview);
     dt_action_define(DT_ACTION(self), NULL, name, textview, &dt_action_def_entry);
     gtk_widget_set_tooltip_text(textview,
               _("metadata text"
diff --git a/src/libs/session.c b/src/libs/session.c
index 91e963061b0f..8efc4704b5b1 100644
--- a/src/libs/session.c
+++ b/src/libs/session.c
@@ -99,8 +99,7 @@ void gui_init(dt_lib_module_t *self)
   gtk_widget_set_halign(GTK_WIDGET(lib->gui.label1), GTK_ALIGN_START);
   gtk_box_pack_start(vbox1, GTK_WIDGET(lib->gui.label1), TRUE, TRUE, 0);
 
-  lib->gui.entry1 = GTK_ENTRY(gtk_entry_new());
-  gtk_entry_set_width_chars(GTK_ENTRY(lib->gui.entry1), 0);
+  lib->gui.entry1 = GTK_ENTRY(dt_ui_entry_new());
   gtk_box_pack_start(vbox2, GTK_WIDGET(lib->gui.entry1), TRUE, TRUE, 0);
 
   lib->gui.button1 = GTK_BUTTON(gtk_button_new_with_label(_("create")));