diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/file_source.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/file_source.h
index 00fb74b426..9b4c2ccffc 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/file_source.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/file_source.h
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ public:
 	const std::string& origin() const { return _origin; }
 
 	virtual void set_path (const std::string&);
+	void replace_file (const std::string&);
 
 	static PBD::Signal2<int,std::string,std::vector<std::string> > AmbiguousFileName;
 
diff --git a/libs/ardour/file_source.cc b/libs/ardour/file_source.cc
index 32f8a1b124..726b223273 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/file_source.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/file_source.cc
@@ -556,6 +556,15 @@ FileSource::set_path (const std::string& newpath)
 	}
 }
 
+
+void
+FileSource::replace_file (const std::string& newpath)
+{
+	close ();
+	_path = newpath;
+	_name = Glib::path_get_basename (newpath);
+}
+
 void
 FileSource::inc_use_count ()
 {