diff --git a/modules/system/system.install b/modules/system/system.install
index b8cecee2cda8c29da6e322cd26b2ca932c64d4fe..52809fa92beda095c3f328f1443a39bdec67d031 100644
--- a/modules/system/system.install
+++ b/modules/system/system.install
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ function system_install() {
         title_arguments varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
         type int NOT NULL default 0,
         block_callback varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
-        description varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
+        description TEXT,
         position varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
         weight int NOT NULL default 0,
         PRIMARY KEY  (path),
@@ -888,7 +888,7 @@ function system_install() {
         title_arguments varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
         type int NOT NULL default 0,
         block_callback varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
-        description varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
+        description TEXT,
         position varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
         weight int NOT NULL default 0,
         PRIMARY KEY (path)