diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
index 7366c601d2..29e3ac2bef 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
@@ -1463,6 +1463,7 @@ class Editor : public PublicEditor, public PBD::ScopedConnectionList, public ARD
 
 	TempoLines* tempo_lines;
 
+	ArdourCanvas::Group* global_rect_group;
 	ArdourCanvas::Group* time_line_group;
 
 	void hide_measures ();
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
index d0ad6d68d3..92acabbd76 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
@@ -88,19 +88,23 @@ Editor::initialize_canvas ()
 		// logo_item->property_width_set() = true;
 		logo_item->show ();
 	}
+	
+	/*a group to hold global rects like punch/loop indicators */
+	global_rect_group = new ArdourCanvas::Group (_track_canvas->root());
+	CANVAS_DEBUG_NAME (global_rect_group, "global rect group");
 
-	/* a group to hold time (measure) lines */
-	time_line_group = new ArdourCanvas::Group (_track_canvas->root());
-	CANVAS_DEBUG_NAME (time_line_group, "time line group");
-
-        transport_loop_range_rect = new ArdourCanvas::Rectangle (time_line_group, ArdourCanvas::Rect (0.0, 0.0, 0.0, ArdourCanvas::COORD_MAX));
+        transport_loop_range_rect = new ArdourCanvas::Rectangle (global_rect_group, ArdourCanvas::Rect (0.0, 0.0, 0.0, ArdourCanvas::COORD_MAX));
 	CANVAS_DEBUG_NAME (transport_loop_range_rect, "loop rect");
 	transport_loop_range_rect->hide();
 
-	transport_punch_range_rect = new ArdourCanvas::Rectangle (time_line_group, ArdourCanvas::Rect (0.0, 0.0, 0.0, ArdourCanvas::COORD_MAX));
+	transport_punch_range_rect = new ArdourCanvas::Rectangle (global_rect_group, ArdourCanvas::Rect (0.0, 0.0, 0.0, ArdourCanvas::COORD_MAX));
 	CANVAS_DEBUG_NAME (transport_punch_range_rect, "punch rect");
 	transport_punch_range_rect->hide();
 
+	/*a group to hold time (measure) lines */
+	time_line_group = new ArdourCanvas::Group (_track_canvas->root());
+	CANVAS_DEBUG_NAME (time_line_group, "time line group");
+
 	_trackview_group = new ArdourCanvas::Group (_track_canvas->root());
 	CANVAS_DEBUG_NAME (_trackview_group, "Canvas TrackViews");
 	_region_motion_group = new ArdourCanvas::Group (_trackview_group);