diff --git a/gfx/src/gtk/gtkdrawing.c b/gfx/src/gtk/gtkdrawing.c
index 5a9b12486e4c..ed57207e096c 100644
--- a/gfx/src/gtk/gtkdrawing.c
+++ b/gfx/src/gtk/gtkdrawing.c
@@ -126,6 +126,26 @@ moz_gtk_button_paint(GdkWindow* window, GtkStyle* style,
   }
 }
 
+void
+moz_gtk_checkbox_get_metrics(gint* indicator_size, gint* indicator_spacing)
+{
+#if ((GTK_MINOR_VERSION == 2) && (GTK_MICRO_VERSION > 8)) || (GTK_MINOR_VERSION > 2)
+  /*
+   * This API is only supported in GTK+ >= 1.2.9, and gives per-theme values.
+   */
+  
+  _gtk_check_button_get_props(GTK_CHECK_BUTTON(gCheckboxWidget),
+                              indicator_size, indicator_spacing);
+#else
+  GtkCheckButtonClass* klass = GTK_CHECK_BUTTON_CLASS(GTK_OBJECT(gCheckboxWidget)->klass);
+
+  if (indicator_size)
+    *indicator_size = klass->indicator_size;
+  if (indicator_spacing)
+    *indicator_spacing = klass->indicator_spacing;
+#endif
+}
+
 void
 moz_gtk_checkbox_paint(GdkWindow* window, GtkStyle* style,
                        GdkRectangle* rect, GdkRectangle* cliprect,
@@ -137,8 +157,7 @@ moz_gtk_checkbox_paint(GdkWindow* window, GtkStyle* style,
   gint indicator_size;
   gint x, y, width, height;
 
-  _gtk_check_button_get_props(GTK_CHECK_BUTTON(gCheckboxWidget),
-                              &indicator_size, NULL);
+  moz_gtk_checkbox_get_metrics(&indicator_size, NULL);
 
   /* left justified, vertically centered within the rect */
   x = rect->x;
diff --git a/gfx/src/gtk/gtkdrawing.h b/gfx/src/gtk/gtkdrawing.h
index ff95a5e9de5a..a1b48b11703d 100644
--- a/gfx/src/gtk/gtkdrawing.h
+++ b/gfx/src/gtk/gtkdrawing.h
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ moz_gtk_button_paint(GdkWindow* window, GtkStyle* style, GdkRectangle* rect,
                      GdkRectangle* cliprect, GtkWidgetState* state, 
                      GtkReliefStyle relief);
 
+void
+moz_gtk_checkbox_get_metrics(gint* indicator_size, gint* indicator_spacing);
+
 void
 moz_gtk_checkbox_paint(GdkWindow* window, GtkStyle* style, GdkRectangle *rect,
                        GdkRectangle* cliprect, GtkWidgetState* state, 
diff --git a/gfx/src/gtk/nsNativeThemeGTK.cpp b/gfx/src/gtk/nsNativeThemeGTK.cpp
index b55874748871..72a4046621cd 100644
--- a/gfx/src/gtk/nsNativeThemeGTK.cpp
+++ b/gfx/src/gtk/nsNativeThemeGTK.cpp
@@ -518,9 +518,7 @@ nsNativeThemeGTK::GetMinimumWidgetSize(nsIRenderingContext* aContext,
       EnsureCheckBoxWidget();
 
       gint indicator_size, indicator_spacing;
-      _gtk_check_button_get_props (GTK_CHECK_BUTTON(gCheckboxWidget), &indicator_size,
-                                   &indicator_spacing);
-
+      moz_gtk_checkbox_get_metrics(&indicator_size, &indicator_spacing);
       aResult->width = aResult->height = indicator_size;
       *aIsOverridable = PR_FALSE;
     }