diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/gain_meter.cc b/gtk2_ardour/gain_meter.cc
index 18e16fdce5..00c41ff1ad 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/gain_meter.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/gain_meter.cc
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ GainMeterBase::set_controls (boost::shared_ptr<Route> r,
 		gain_adjustment.set_upper (2.0);
 		gain_adjustment.set_step_increment (0.05);
 		gain_adjustment.set_page_increment (0.1);
+		gain_slider->set_default_value (1);
 	}
 
 	if (!_route || !_route->is_hidden()) {
diff --git a/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtkmm2ext/pixfader.h b/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtkmm2ext/pixfader.h
index 00a42769be..43df8e555e 100644
--- a/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtkmm2ext/pixfader.h
+++ b/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtkmm2ext/pixfader.h
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ class PixFader : public Gtk::DrawingArea
 	void set_fader_length (int);
         void set_border_colors (uint32_t rgba_left, uint32_t rgba_right);
 
+	void set_default_value (float);
+
   protected:
 	Gtk::Adjustment& adjustment;
 
@@ -82,6 +84,7 @@ class PixFader : public Gtk::DrawingArea
 	void adjustment_changed ();
 	int display_span ();
 	void set_adjustment_from_event (GdkEventButton *);
+	void update_unity_position ();
 
 	static int fine_scale_modifier;
 	static int extra_fine_scale_modifier;
diff --git a/libs/gtkmm2ext/pixfader.cc b/libs/gtkmm2ext/pixfader.cc
index 6f8eb32e78..8dde56a989 100644
--- a/libs/gtkmm2ext/pixfader.cc
+++ b/libs/gtkmm2ext/pixfader.cc
@@ -369,9 +369,21 @@ PixFader::set_fader_length (int l)
 {
 	if (_orien == VERT) {
 		view.height = span = l;
-		unity_loc = (int) rint (view.height - (default_value * view.height)) - 1;
 	} else {
 		view.width = span = l;
+	}
+
+	update_unity_position ();
+
+	queue_draw ();
+}
+
+void
+PixFader::update_unity_position ()
+{
+	if (_orien == VERT) {
+		unity_loc = (int) rint (view.height * (1 - (default_value / (adjustment.get_upper() - adjustment.get_lower())))) - 1;
+	} else {
 		unity_loc = (int) rint (default_value * view.width);
 	}
 
@@ -402,3 +414,10 @@ PixFader::set_adjustment_from_event (GdkEventButton* ev)
 
 	adjustment.set_value (fract * (adjustment.get_upper () - adjustment.get_lower ()));
 }
+
+void
+PixFader::set_default_value (float d)
+{
+	default_value = d;
+	update_unity_position ();
+}