diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/automation_control.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/automation_control.h
index 26537b0e46..6ce6e4290c 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/automation_control.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/automation_control.h
@@ -124,6 +124,14 @@ public:
 
 	AutomationControlList grouped_controls () const;
 
+	void add_visually_linked_control (std::shared_ptr<AutomationControl> ctrl) {
+		_visually_linked_ctrls.push_back (ctrl);
+	}
+
+	WeakAutomationControlList visually_linked_controls () const {
+		return _visually_linked_ctrls;
+	}
+
 protected:
 	std::shared_ptr<ControlGroup> _group;
 	std::shared_ptr<ControlGroup> _pushed_group;
@@ -150,6 +158,8 @@ protected:
 
 	void session_going_away ();
 
+	WeakAutomationControlList _visually_linked_ctrls;
+
 private:
 	/* I am unclear on why we have to make ControlGroup a friend in order
 	   to get access to the ::set_group() method when it is already
diff --git a/libs/ardour/pannable.cc b/libs/ardour/pannable.cc
index e35a33dd74..429e864fd1 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/pannable.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/pannable.cc
@@ -74,6 +74,13 @@ Pannable::Pannable (Session& s, Temporal::TimeDomainProvider const & tdp)
 	pan_width_control->Changed.connect_same_thread (*this, boost::bind (&Pannable::value_changed, this));
 	pan_frontback_control->Changed.connect_same_thread (*this, boost::bind (&Pannable::value_changed, this));
 	pan_lfe_control->Changed.connect_same_thread (*this, boost::bind (&Pannable::value_changed, this));
+
+	pan_azimuth_control->add_visually_linked_control (pan_width_control);
+	pan_azimuth_control->add_visually_linked_control (pan_elevation_control);
+	pan_width_control->add_visually_linked_control (pan_azimuth_control);
+	pan_width_control->add_visually_linked_control (pan_elevation_control);
+	pan_elevation_control->add_visually_linked_control (pan_azimuth_control);
+	pan_elevation_control->add_visually_linked_control (pan_width_control);
 }
 
 Pannable::~Pannable ()
diff --git a/libs/ardour/surround_pannable.cc b/libs/ardour/surround_pannable.cc
index fe2545f007..0e9a33b519 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/surround_pannable.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/surround_pannable.cc
@@ -94,6 +94,14 @@ SurroundPannable::SurroundPannable (Session& s, uint32_t chn, Temporal::TimeDoma
 	pan_pos_z->Changed.connect_same_thread (*this, boost::bind (&SurroundPannable::value_changed, this));
 	pan_size->Changed.connect_same_thread (*this, boost::bind (&SurroundPannable::value_changed, this));
 	pan_snap->Changed.connect_same_thread (*this, boost::bind (&SurroundPannable::value_changed, this));
+
+	/* all controls are visible together */
+	pan_pos_x->add_visually_linked_control (pan_pos_y);
+	pan_pos_x->add_visually_linked_control (pan_pos_z);
+	pan_pos_y->add_visually_linked_control (pan_pos_x);
+	pan_pos_y->add_visually_linked_control (pan_pos_z);
+	pan_pos_z->add_visually_linked_control (pan_pos_x);
+	pan_pos_z->add_visually_linked_control (pan_pos_y);
 }
 
 SurroundPannable::~SurroundPannable ()