diff --git a/applets/digital-clock/package/contents/ui/DigitalClock.qml b/applets/digital-clock/package/contents/ui/DigitalClock.qml
--- a/applets/digital-clock/package/contents/ui/DigitalClock.qml
+++ b/applets/digital-clock/package/contents/ui/DigitalClock.qml
@@ -301,13 +301,14 @@
             PropertyChanges {
                 target: dateLabel
 
-                // this can be marginal bigger than contentHeight because of the horizontal fit
-                height: sizehelper.contentHeight
+                // Don't set height when using a vertical panel, so the label can
+                // become a multiline string when necessary
                 width: main.width
 
                 fontSizeMode: Text.Fit
                 minimumPixelSize: Math.min(0.7 * theme.smallestFont.pixelSize, timeLabel.height)
                 elide: Text.ElideRight
+                wrapMode: Text.WordWrap
             }
 
             AnchorChanges {