diff --git a/traitsui/qt4/tabular_editor.py b/traitsui/qt4/tabular_editor.py
index da20ac780..c672f67b7 100644
--- a/traitsui/qt4/tabular_editor.py
+++ b/traitsui/qt4/tabular_editor.py
@@ -409,6 +409,8 @@ def _adapter_columns_updated(self):
 
     def _update_changed(self):
         self.update_editor()
+        if self.factory.auto_resize:
+            self.control.resizeColumnsToContents()
 
     def _refresh_changed(self):
         self.refresh_editor()