diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_view_background.cc b/gtk2_ardour/midi_view_background.cc
index 32d03c77a2..8fe35ba530 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_view_background.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_view_background.cc
@@ -231,15 +231,15 @@ MidiViewBackground::maybe_extend_note_range (uint8_t note_num)
 	}
 }
 
-void
+bool
 MidiViewBackground::maybe_apply_note_range (uint8_t lowest, uint8_t highest, bool to_children, RangeCanMove can_move)
 {
 	if (note_range_set && _lowest_note <= lowest && _highest_note >= highest) {
 		/* already large enough */
-		return;
+		return false;
 	}
 
-	apply_note_range (lowest, highest, to_children, can_move);
+	return apply_note_range (lowest, highest, to_children, can_move);
 }
 
 bool
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_view_background.h b/gtk2_ardour/midi_view_background.h
index 6edd2f1cde..b7caf82e06 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_view_background.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_view_background.h
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class MidiViewBackground : public virtual ViewBackground
 	};
 
 	bool apply_note_range (uint8_t lowest, uint8_t highest, bool to_children, RangeCanMove = RangeCanMove (CanMoveTop|CanMoveBottom));
-	void maybe_apply_note_range (uint8_t lowest, uint8_t highest, bool to_children, RangeCanMove = RangeCanMove (CanMoveTop|CanMoveBottom));
+	bool maybe_apply_note_range (uint8_t lowest, uint8_t highest, bool to_children, RangeCanMove = RangeCanMove (CanMoveTop|CanMoveBottom));
 
 	/** @return y position, or -1 if hidden */
 	virtual int y_position () const { return 0; }