diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/touch.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/touch.pyj
index 0c208dd076..b26c11f642 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/touch.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/touch.pyj
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 # License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2016, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 from __python__ import bound_methods, hash_literals
 
-from read_book.globals import get_boss, ui_operations, ltr_page_progression
-from read_book.viewport import scroll_viewport
+from read_book.globals import get_boss, ltr_page_progression, ui_operations
 from read_book.settings import opts
+from read_book.viewport import get_unit_size_in_pixels, scroll_viewport
 
 HOLD_THRESHOLD = 750  # milliseconds
 TAP_THRESHOLD = 8  # pixels
@@ -233,6 +233,13 @@ class TouchHandler:
             return
         self.handle_gesture(gesture)
 
+def inch_in_pixels():
+    ans = inch_in_pixels().ans
+    if not ans:
+        ans = inch_in_pixels.ans = max(2, get_unit_size_in_pixels('in'))
+    return ans
+
+
 class BookTouchHandler(TouchHandler):
 
     def __init__(self, for_side_margin=None):
@@ -250,21 +257,23 @@ class BookTouchHandler(TouchHandler):
                 return
             if not gesture.active:
                 if self.for_side_margin or not tap_on_link(gesture):
+                    inch = inch_in_pixels()
                     if gesture.viewport_y < min(100, scroll_viewport.height() / 4):
                         gesture.type = 'show-chrome'
                     else:
+                        limit = inch
                         # default, books that go left to right.
                         if ltr_page_progression() and not opts.reverse_page_turn_zones:
-                            if gesture.viewport_x < min(100, scroll_viewport.width() / 4):
+                            if gesture.viewport_x < min(limit, scroll_viewport.width() / 4):
                                 gesture.type = 'prev-page'
                             else:
                                 gesture.type = 'next-page'
                         # We swap the sizes in RTL mode, so that going to the next page is always the bigger touch region.
                         else:
-                            # The "going back" area should not be more than 100 units big,
-                            # even if 1/4 of the scroll viewport is more than 100 units.
-                            # Checking against the larger of the width minus the 100 units and 3/4 of the width will accomplish that.
-                            if gesture.viewport_x > max(scroll_viewport.width() - 100, scroll_viewport.width() * (3/4)):
+                            # The "going back" area should not be more than limit units big,
+                            # even if 1/4 of the scroll viewport is more than limit units.
+                            # Checking against the larger of the width minus the limit units and 3/4 of the width will accomplish that.
+                            if gesture.viewport_x > max(scroll_viewport.width() - limit, scroll_viewport.width() * (3/4)):
                                 gesture.type = 'prev-page'
                             else:
                                 gesture.type = 'next-page'
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
index 87232bc756..4aec340452 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
@@ -116,12 +116,15 @@ def show_controls_help():
         return set_css(E.div(txt), padding='1ex 1em', text_align='center', margin='auto')
 
     left_msg = msg(_('Tap to turn back'))
-    left_width = '25vw'
+    left_width = 'min(25vw, 1in)'
     right_msg = msg(_('Tap to turn page'))
-    right_width = '75vw'
+    right_width = 'auto'
+    left_grow = 0
+    right_grow = 1
     if rtl_page_progression():
         left_msg, right_msg = right_msg, left_msg
         left_width, right_width = right_width, left_width
+        left_grow, right_grow = right_grow, left_grow
 
     # Clear it out if this is not the first time it's created.
     # Needed to correctly show it again in a different page progression direction.
@@ -139,11 +142,11 @@ def show_controls_help():
             style="display: flex; align-items: stretch; flex-grow: 10",
             E.div(
                 left_msg,
-                style=f'width: {left_width}; display:flex; align-items: center; border-right: solid 2px currentColor',
+                style=f'width: {left_width}; flex-grow: {left_grow}; display:flex; align-items: center; border-right: solid 2px currentColor',
             ),
             E.div(
                 right_msg,
-                style=f'width: {right_width}; display:flex; align-items: center',
+                style=f'width: {right_width}; display:flex; flex-grow: {right_grow}; align-items: center',
             )
         )
     ))