diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in
index 874c6d43c4..0872fc9141 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in
@@ -361,9 +361,9 @@ style "mixer_red_active_button" = "very_small_button"
  	bg[INSENSITIVE] = { 0.16, 0.16, 0.21 }
 }
 
-style "time_button" = "default_button"
+style "ruler_label" = "small_bold_text"
 {
-	font_name = "@FONT_SMALL@"
+        fg[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_light_text_on_dark
 }
 
 style "transport_button"
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_widget_list.rc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_widget_list.rc
index 2abe10affe..e9fe6ac8bd 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_widget_list.rc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_widget_list.rc
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ widget "*MixerSoloButton-alternate2" style:highest "mixer_solo_button_alternate2
 widget "*MixerSoloButton-active" style:highest "mixer_solo_button_active"
 widget "*TrackLoopButton*" style:highest "track_loop_button"
 widget "*PanAutomationLineSelector*" style:highest "multiline_combo"
-widget "*EditorTimeButton*" style:highest "time_button"
+widget "*EditorRulerLabel*" style:highest "ruler_label"
 widget "*MixerInvertButton*" style:highest "mixer_invert_button"
 widget "*MixerInvertButton.*" style:highest "mixer_invert_button"
 widget "*MixerAutomationRecordingButton*" style:highest "very_small_button"
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc
index 554932338b..1c9c613e4b 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc
@@ -384,67 +384,67 @@ Editor::Editor ()
 	set_zoom_focus (ZoomFocusLeft);
 	zoom_range_clock->ValueChanged.connect (sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Editor::zoom_adjustment_changed));
 
-	bbt_label.set_name ("EditorTimeButton");
+	bbt_label.set_name ("EditorRulerLabel");
 	bbt_label.set_size_request (-1, (int)timebar_height);
 	bbt_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5);
 	bbt_label.set_padding (5,0);
 	bbt_label.hide ();
 	bbt_label.set_no_show_all();
-	minsec_label.set_name ("EditorTimeButton");
+	minsec_label.set_name ("EditorRulerLabel");
 	minsec_label.set_size_request (-1, (int)timebar_height);
 	minsec_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5);
 	minsec_label.set_padding (5,0);
 	minsec_label.hide ();
 	minsec_label.set_no_show_all();
-	timecode_label.set_name ("EditorTimeButton");
+	timecode_label.set_name ("EditorRulerLabel");
 	timecode_label.set_size_request (-1, (int)timebar_height);
 	timecode_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5);
 	timecode_label.set_padding (5,0);
 	timecode_label.hide ();
 	timecode_label.set_no_show_all();
-	samples_label.set_name ("EditorTimeButton");
+	samples_label.set_name ("EditorRulerLabel");
 	samples_label.set_size_request (-1, (int)timebar_height);
 	samples_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5);
 	samples_label.set_padding (5,0);
 	samples_label.hide ();
 	samples_label.set_no_show_all();
 
-	tempo_label.set_name ("EditorTimeButton");
+	tempo_label.set_name ("EditorRulerLabel");
 	tempo_label.set_size_request (-1, (int)timebar_height);
 	tempo_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5);
 	tempo_label.set_padding (5,0);
 	tempo_label.hide();
 	tempo_label.set_no_show_all();
 
-	meter_label.set_name ("EditorTimeButton");
+	meter_label.set_name ("EditorRulerLabel");
 	meter_label.set_size_request (-1, (int)timebar_height);
 	meter_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5);
 	meter_label.set_padding (5,0);
 	meter_label.hide();
 	meter_label.set_no_show_all();
 
-	mark_label.set_name ("EditorTimeButton");
+	mark_label.set_name ("EditorRulerLabel");
 	mark_label.set_size_request (-1, (int)timebar_height);
 	mark_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5);
 	mark_label.set_padding (5,0);
 	mark_label.hide();
 	mark_label.set_no_show_all();
 
-	cd_mark_label.set_name ("EditorTimeButton");
+	cd_mark_label.set_name ("EditorRulerLabel");
 	cd_mark_label.set_size_request (-1, (int)timebar_height);
 	cd_mark_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5);
 	cd_mark_label.set_padding (5,0);
 	cd_mark_label.hide();
 	cd_mark_label.set_no_show_all();
 
-	range_mark_label.set_name ("EditorTimeButton");
+	range_mark_label.set_name ("EditorRulerLabel");
 	range_mark_label.set_size_request (-1, (int)timebar_height);
 	range_mark_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5);
 	range_mark_label.set_padding (5,0);
 	range_mark_label.hide();
 	range_mark_label.set_no_show_all();
 
-	transport_mark_label.set_name ("EditorTimeButton");
+	transport_mark_label.set_name ("EditorRulerLabel");
 	transport_mark_label.set_size_request (-1, (int)timebar_height);
 	transport_mark_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5);
 	transport_mark_label.set_padding (5,0);