diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_time_axis.cc b/gtk2_ardour/midi_time_axis.cc
index 6cdf63f033..a4ffc442a3 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_time_axis.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_time_axis.cc
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ MidiTimeAxisView::set_route (boost::shared_ptr<Route> rt)
 		v->pack_start (*manage (new Label ("")), true, true);
 		v->show ();
 		h->show ();
-		controls_hbox.pack_start(*v);
+		controls_hbox.pack_start(*v, false, false);
 
 		controls_ebox.set_name ("MidiTrackControlsBaseUnselected");
 		controls_base_selected_name = "MidiTrackControlsBaseSelected";