diff --git a/autoload/pymode.vim b/autoload/pymode.vim
index c518c415..12992fa8 100644
--- a/autoload/pymode.vim
+++ b/autoload/pymode.vim
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ endfunction "}}}
 " DESC: Open temp buffer.
 fun! pymode#tempbuffer_open(name) "{{{
     pclose
-    exe "botright 8new " . a:name
+    " change number to set number of lines for new window
+    exe "botright 20new " . a:name
     setlocal buftype=nofile bufhidden=delete noswapfile nowrap previewwindow
     redraw
 endfunction "}}}
diff --git a/autoload/pymode/doc.vim b/autoload/pymode/doc.vim
index 3030dcea..173fe874 100644
--- a/autoload/pymode/doc.vim
+++ b/autoload/pymode/doc.vim
@@ -28,7 +28,11 @@ fun! pymode#doc#show(word) "{{{
     endif
 
     call pymode#tempbuffer_open('__doc__')
+    " need to allow the buffer to be modified so the documentation can be
+    " written to the buffer
+    setlocal modifiable
     PymodePython pymode.get_documentation()
+    " no need to modify the buffer after the documentation has been written
     setlocal nomodifiable
     setlocal nomodified
     setlocal filetype=rst