diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.cc b/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.cc
index 5326629934..9de10724c0 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.cc
@@ -1398,6 +1398,18 @@ AutomationLine::add_visible_control_point (uint32_t view_index, uint32_t pi, dou
 	}
 }
 
+void
+AutomationLine::dump (std::ostream& ostr) const
+{
+	for (auto const & cp : control_points) {
+		if (cp->model() != alist->end()) {
+			ostr << '#' << cp->view_index() << " @ " << cp->get_x() << ", " << cp->get_y() << " for " << (*cp->model())->value << " @ " << (*(cp->model()))->when << std::endl;
+		} else {
+			ostr << "dead point\n";
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 void
 AutomationLine::connect_to_list ()
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.h b/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.h
index 4f2d60f5a1..fac5ce5562 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.h
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ public:
 	void set_width (Temporal::timecnt_t const &);
 
 	Temporal::timepos_t session_position (Temporal::timepos_t const &) const;
+	void dump (std::ostream&) const;
 
 protected: