diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/engine_dialog.cc b/gtk2_ardour/engine_dialog.cc
index b5a59af642..989f2802c3 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/engine_dialog.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/engine_dialog.cc
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/scoped_ptr.hpp>
 
-#include <glibmm.h>
+#include <glibmm/spawn.h>
 #include <gtkmm/messagedialog.h>
 
 #include "pbd/error.h"
@@ -790,22 +790,46 @@ EngineControl::get_device_name () const
 void
 EngineControl::control_app_button_clicked ()
 {
-	boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::AudioBackend> backend = ARDOUR::AudioEngine::instance()->current_backend();
 
-	if (!backend) {
+	const string appname  = g_getenv ("ARDOUR_DEVICE_CONTROL_APP");
+
+	if (appname.empty()) {
+		boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::AudioBackend> backend = ARDOUR::AudioEngine::instance()->current_backend();
+		
+		if (!backend) {
+			return;
+		}
+		
+		string appname = backend->control_app_name();
+	}
+
+	if (appname.empty()) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	backend->launch_control_app();
+	std::list<string> args;
+	args.push_back (appname);
+	Glib::spawn_async ("", args, Glib::SPAWN_SEARCH_PATH);
 }
 
 void
 EngineControl::manage_control_app_sensitivity ()
 {
-	boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::AudioBackend> backend = ARDOUR::AudioEngine::instance()->current_backend();
-	if (backend && backend->have_control_app()) {
-		control_app_button.set_sensitive (true);
-	} else {
+	const string appname  = g_getenv ("ARDOUR_DEVICE_CONTROL_APP");
+
+	if (appname.empty()) {
+		boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::AudioBackend> backend = ARDOUR::AudioEngine::instance()->current_backend();
+		
+		if (!backend) {
+			return;
+		}
+		
+		string appname = backend->control_app_name();
+	}
+
+	if (appname.empty()) {
 		control_app_button.set_sensitive (false);
+	} else {
+		control_app_button.set_sensitive (true);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h
index f598f1a93a..b8a1818e24 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h
@@ -228,20 +228,12 @@ class AudioBackend {
     virtual uint32_t     systemic_input_latency () const = 0;
     virtual uint32_t     systemic_output_latency () const = 0;
 
-    /** Return true if it is possible to launch a control app
-     * at this time. Return false otherwise.
-     *
-     * The audio backend may not know the device for which the
-     * control app should be opened, or there may no such
-     * application. In such cases, this method should return false.
+    /** Return the name of a control application for the 
+     * selected/in-use device. If no such application exists,
+     * or if no device has been selected or is in-use,
+     * return an empty string.
      */
-    virtual bool have_control_app() const = 0;
-
-    /** If the device name has been set, launch an application (if any exist)
-     * to manage the hardware settings of that device. If no such application
-     * exists, do nothing.
-     */
-    virtual void launch_control_app () = 0;
+    virtual std::string control_app_name() const = 0;
 
     /* Basic state control */
 
diff --git a/libs/backends/jack/jack_audiobackend.cc b/libs/backends/jack/jack_audiobackend.cc
index f21440e046..811e190fb6 100644
--- a/libs/backends/jack/jack_audiobackend.cc
+++ b/libs/backends/jack/jack_audiobackend.cc
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 
 #include <boost/scoped_ptr.hpp>
 #include <glibmm/timer.h>
-#include <glibmm/spawn.h>
 
 #include "pbd/error.h"
 
@@ -981,26 +980,3 @@ JACKAudioBackend::control_app_name () const
 	return appname;
 }
 
-bool
-JACKAudioBackend::have_control_app () const
-{
-	return !control_app_name().empty();
-}
-
-void
-JACKAudioBackend::launch_control_app ()
-{
-	/* launch control app, don't care if it succeeds */
-
-	string appname = control_app_name ();
-
-	if (appname.empty()) {
-		return;
-	}
-	
-	std::list<string> args;
-	args.push_back (appname);
-	Glib::spawn_async ("", args, Glib::SPAWN_SEARCH_PATH);
-}
-
-	
diff --git a/libs/backends/jack/jack_audiobackend.h b/libs/backends/jack/jack_audiobackend.h
index 15246a0305..969a28a77a 100644
--- a/libs/backends/jack/jack_audiobackend.h
+++ b/libs/backends/jack/jack_audiobackend.h
@@ -84,8 +84,7 @@ class JACKAudioBackend : public AudioBackend {
     uint32_t     systemic_input_latency () const;
     uint32_t     systemic_output_latency () const;
 
-    bool have_control_app() const;
-    void launch_control_app ();
+    std::string control_app_name () const;
 
     int start ();
     int stop ();
@@ -182,7 +181,6 @@ class JACKAudioBackend : public AudioBackend {
     mutable DriverDeviceMap all_devices;
 
     PBD::ScopedConnection disconnect_connection;
-    std::string control_app_name () const;
 };
 
 } // namespace