diff --git a/libs/ardour/session.cc b/libs/ardour/session.cc
index 2d26cb73b4..dd0cbc6d2f 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/session.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/session.cc
@@ -3606,8 +3606,10 @@ Session::create_midi_source_by_stealing_name (boost::shared_ptr<Track> track)
 	/* MIDI files are small, just put them in the first location of the
 	   session source search path.
 	*/
+	vector<string> dirs;
 
-	const string path = Glib::build_filename (source_search_path (DataType::MIDI).front(), name);
+	split (source_search_path(DataType::MIDI), dirs, ':');
+	const string path = Glib::build_filename (dirs.front(), name);
 
 	return boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<SMFSource> (
 		SourceFactory::createWritable (
diff --git a/libs/ardour/smf_source.cc b/libs/ardour/smf_source.cc
index caaa71d39d..e32c14acb3 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/smf_source.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/smf_source.cc
@@ -153,7 +153,12 @@ SMFSource::SMFSource (Session& s, const XMLNode& node, bool must_exist)
 			   path for MIDI files, which is assumed to be the
 			   correct "main" location.
 			*/
-			std::vector<string> sdirs = s.source_search_path (DataType::MIDI);
+			std::vector<Glib::ustring> sdirs;
+			split (s.source_search_path (DataType::MIDI), sdirs, ':');
+			if (sdirs.empty()) {
+				fatal << _("Empty MIDI source search path!") << endmsg;
+				/*NOTREACHED*/
+			}
 			_path = Glib::build_filename (sdirs.front(), _path);
 			/* This might be important, too */
 			_file_is_new = true;