diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
index 92f572f46f..c009ca1ad0 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
@@ -319,6 +319,7 @@ MixerStrip::init ()
 	number_label.set_alignment (.5, .5);
 	number_label.set_fallthrough_to_parent (true);
 	number_label.set_tweaks (ArdourButton::OccasionalText);
+	set_tooltip (&number_label, _("Double-click to edit the route color.\nRight-click to show the route operations context menu."));
 
 	global_vpacker.set_spacing (2);
 	global_vpacker.pack_start (width_hide_box, Gtk::PACK_SHRINK);