diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/controls.h b/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/controls.h
index 462d4c2e0..4158d7d4e 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/controls.h
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/controls.h
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ public:
     label.setText(text);
     label.setAlignment(Qt::AlignRight | Qt::AlignVCenter);
     hlayout->addWidget(&label);
+    if (text == "") {
+      setContentsMargins(0, 50, 0, 0); // 30px top margin, 10px bottom margin
+                                        // This will create space above and below the entire header control.
+    }
   }
   void setText(const QString &text) { label.setText(text); }