diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/ui/newui/AbstractCPropertyTab.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/ui/newui/AbstractCPropertyTab.java
index c61aba799ab..762539159d6 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/ui/newui/AbstractCPropertyTab.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/ui/newui/AbstractCPropertyTab.java
@@ -622,8 +622,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractCPropertyTab implements ICPropertyTab {
 	 * @param msg - text to be shown instead of panes
 	 */
 	protected void setAllVisible(boolean visible, String msg) {
-		if (!visible)
-			setBackgroundText(msg);
+		setBackgroundText(visible ? EMPTY_STR : msg);
 		usercomp.setVisible(visible);
 		buttoncomp.setVisible(visible);
 		if (page != null) {