diff --git a/api/js/etemplate/et2_extension_nextmatch.js b/api/js/etemplate/et2_extension_nextmatch.js
index 4c32b8475a..16f878867c 100644
--- a/api/js/etemplate/et2_extension_nextmatch.js
+++ b/api/js/etemplate/et2_extension_nextmatch.js
@@ -1063,16 +1063,18 @@ var et2_nextmatch = (function(){ "use strict"; return et2_DOMWidget.extend([et2_
 		// efficient apps that didn't send all custom fields in the first request
 		var cf_added = jQuery(changed).filter(jQuery(custom_fields)).length > 0;
 
-		// Save visible columns
-		// 'nextmatch-' prefix is there in preference name, but not in setting, so add it in
-		this.egw().set_preference(app, pref, this.activeFilters.selectcols.join(","),
-			// Use callback after the preference gets set to trigger refresh, in case app
-			// isn't looking at selectcols and just uses preference
-			cf_added ? jQuery.proxy(function() {if(this.controller) this.controller.update(true);}, this):null
-		);
-
-		// Save adjusted column sizes
-		this.egw().set_preference(app, pref+"-size", colSize);
+		// Save visible columns and sizes if selectcols is not emtpy (an empty selectcols actually deletes the prefrence)
+		if(!jQuery.isEmptyObject(this.activeFilters.selectcols)){
+			// 'nextmatch-' prefix is there in preference name, but not in setting, so add it in
+			this.egw().set_preference(app, pref, this.activeFilters.selectcols.join(","),
+				// Use callback after the preference gets set to trigger refresh, in case app
+				// isn't looking at selectcols and just uses preference
+				cf_added ? jQuery.proxy(function() {if(this.controller) this.controller.update(true);}, this):null
+			);
+			// Save adjusted column sizes and inform user about it
+			this.egw().set_preference(app, pref+"-size", colSize);
+			this.egw().message(egw().lang("Saved column sizes to preferences."));
+		}
 
 		// No significant change (just normal columns shown) and no need to wait,
 		// but the grid still needs to be redrawn if a custom field was removed because