diff --git a/scheme/httpd/surflets/surflet-input-fields.scm b/scheme/httpd/surflets/surflet-input-fields.scm
index 328e7f5..4793984 100644
--- a/scheme/httpd/surflets/surflet-input-fields.scm
+++ b/scheme/httpd/surflets/surflet-input-fields.scm
@@ -108,11 +108,11 @@
 	 (cols number?)
 	 (readonly symbol?)
 	 (attributes sxml-attribute?))
-      (let ((extra-attributes '()))
-	(if (eq? readonly 'readonly)
-	    (set! extra-attributes (cons '(readonly) extra-attributes)))
-	(if cols (set! extra-attributes (cons `(cols ,cols) extra-attributes)))
-	(if rows (set! extra-attributes (cons `(rows ,rows) extra-attributes)))
+      (let ((extra-attributes 
+	     (list `(cols ,(or cols 20))
+		   `(rows ,(or rows 5))
+		   (and (eq? readonly 'readonly)
+		       '(readonly)))))
 	(make-input-field 
 	 name "textarea"
 	 identity