diff --git a/engine/src/core/com/jme3/font/BitmapText.java b/engine/src/core/com/jme3/font/BitmapText.java
index 231fcdb43..a1f9b77ee 100644
--- a/engine/src/core/com/jme3/font/BitmapText.java
+++ b/engine/src/core/com/jme3/font/BitmapText.java
@@ -112,29 +112,49 @@ public class BitmapText extends Node {
      */
     public void setText(String text) {
         text = text == null ? "" : text;
-        if (!block.getText().equals(text)) {
-            // If the text is empty, reset
-            if (text.isEmpty()) {
-                detachAllChildren();
-                
-                for (int page = 0; page < textPages.length; page++) {
-                    textPages[page] = new BitmapTextPage(font, true, page);
-                    attachChild(textPages[page]);
-                }
 
-                block = new StringBlock();
-                letters = new Letters(font, block, letters.getQuad().isRightToLeft());
+        if (text == block.getText() || block.getText().equals(text)) { 	
+            return;
+        }
+
+        /*
+        The problem with the below block is that StringBlock carries
+        pretty much all of the text-related state of the BitmapText such
+        as size, text box, alignment, etc.
+        
+        I'm not sure why this change was needed and the commit message was
+        not entirely helpful because it purports to fix a problem that I've 
+        never encountered.
+        
+        If block.setText("") doesn't do the right thing then that's where
+        the fix should go because StringBlock carries too much information to
+        be blown away every time.  -pspeed
+        
+        Change was made:
+        http://code.google.com/p/jmonkeyengine/source/detail?spec=svn9389&r=9389
+        Diff:
+        http://code.google.com/p/jmonkeyengine/source/diff?path=/trunk/engine/src/core/com/jme3/font/BitmapText.java&format=side&r=9389&old_path=/trunk/engine/src/core/com/jme3/font/BitmapText.java&old=8843
+        
+        // If the text is empty, reset
+        if (text.isEmpty()) {
+            detachAllChildren();
+                
+            for (int page = 0; page < textPages.length; page++) {
+                textPages[page] = new BitmapTextPage(font, true, page);
+                attachChild(textPages[page]);
             }
-            
-            // Update the text content
-            block.setText(text);
-            letters.setText(text);
 
-            // Flat for refresh
-            needRefresh = true;
+            block = new StringBlock();
+            letters = new Letters(font, block, letters.getQuad().isRightToLeft());
         }
+        */
+            
+        // Update the text content
+        block.setText(text);
+        letters.setText(text);
 
-
+        // Flag for refresh
+        needRefresh = true;
     }
 
     /**