diff --git a/simgear/scene/tgdb/apt_signs.cxx b/simgear/scene/tgdb/apt_signs.cxx
index e4d9fb57..b3868d34 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/tgdb/apt_signs.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/tgdb/apt_signs.cxx
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ ssgBranch *sgMakeTaxiSign( SGMaterialLib *matlib,
 
     // Part II: typeset
     double hpos = -total_width / 2;
-    const double dist = 0.5;        // hard-code distance from surface for now
+    const double dist = 0.25;        // hard-code distance from surface for now
 
     sgVec3 normal;
     sgSetVec3(normal, 0, -1, 0);