diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.h b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.h
index 0222012c9a..637cc11710 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.h
@@ -892,6 +892,7 @@ private:
 	void step_down_through_tabs ();
 
 	void escape ();
+	void close_current_dialog ();
 	void pre_release_dialog ();
 };
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_ed.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_ed.cc
index c50beef9cd..a0960ded5f 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_ed.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_ed.cc
@@ -114,6 +114,12 @@ ARDOUR_UI::escape ()
 	Escape (); /* EMIT SIGNAL */
 }
 
+void
+ARDOUR_UI::close_current_dialog ()
+{
+	Keyboard::close_current_dialog ();
+}
+
 void
 ARDOUR_UI::install_actions ()
 {
@@ -122,6 +128,11 @@ ARDOUR_UI::install_actions ()
 	Glib::RefPtr<Action> act;
 
 	global_actions.register_action (main_actions, X_("Escape"), _("Escape"), sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ARDOUR_UI::escape));
+	/* This is hard-wired into the Keyboard code as "Primary-w". Maybe it
+	   doesn't need to be. This action makes it possible to do this from a
+	   control surface.
+	*/
+	global_actions.register_action (main_actions, X_("close-current-dialog"), _("Close Current Dialog"), sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ARDOUR_UI::close_current_dialog));
 
 	/* menus + submenus that need action items */