diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/MultiLineLabel.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/MultiLineLabel.java
index 413d7554..829ab789 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/MultiLineLabel.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/MultiLineLabel.java
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public class MultiLineLabel extends JComponent
      */
     public MultiLineLabel (String text, int align, int constrain, int size)
     {
-        _label = new Label(text);
+        _label = createLabel(text);
         _label.setAlignment(align);
         noteConstraints(constrain, size);
     }
@@ -306,6 +306,14 @@ public class MultiLineLabel extends JComponent
         layoutLabel();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Creates the underlying {@link Label} that we use to render our text.
+     */
+    protected Label createLabel (String text)
+    {
+        return new Label(text);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Called when the label has changed in some meaningful way and we'd
      * accordingly like to re-layout the label, update our component's