diff --git a/lib/timeline/component/item/BoxItem.js b/lib/timeline/component/item/BoxItem.js
index 4aee6f7f..ba2d258a 100644
--- a/lib/timeline/component/item/BoxItem.js
+++ b/lib/timeline/component/item/BoxItem.js
@@ -110,19 +110,29 @@ BoxItem.prototype.redraw = function() {
     this._updateDataAttributes(this.dom.box);
     this._updateStyle(this.dom.box);
 
-    var editable = (this.options.editable.updateTime || 
+    var editable = (this.options.editable.updateTime ||
                     this.options.editable.updateGroup ||
                     this.editable === true) &&
                    this.editable !== false;
 
     // update class
     var className = (this.data.className? ' ' + this.data.className : '') +
-        (this.selected ? ' vis-selected' : '') + 
+        (this.selected ? ' vis-selected' : '') +
         (editable ? ' vis-editable' : ' vis-readonly');
     dom.box.className = 'vis-item vis-box' + className;
     dom.line.className = 'vis-item vis-line' + className;
     dom.dot.className  = 'vis-item vis-dot' + className;
 
+    // set initial position in the visible range of the grid so that the
+    // rendered box size can be determinated correctly, even the content
+    // has a dynamic width (fixes #2032).
+    // The correct position is reset by this.repositionX
+    if (this.options.rtl) {
+      dom.box.style.right = "0px";
+    } else {
+      dom.box.style.left = "0px";
+    }
+
     // recalculate size
     this.props.dot.height = dom.dot.offsetHeight;
     this.props.dot.width = dom.dot.offsetWidth;