diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/option_editor.cc b/gtk2_ardour/option_editor.cc
index 8ac17d37a1..49a42b7b85 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/option_editor.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/option_editor.cc
@@ -442,12 +442,11 @@ HSliderOption::HSliderOption (
 	, _set (s)
 	, _adj (lower, lower, upper, step_increment, page_increment, 0)
 	, _hscale (_adj)
-	, _label (n + ":")
 	, _mult (mult)
 	, _log (logarithmic)
 {
-	_label.set_alignment (0, 0.5);
-	_label.set_name ("OptionsLabel");
+	_label = manage (left_aligned_label (n + ":"));
+	_label->set_name ("OptionsLabel");
 	_adj.set_value (_get());
 	_adj.signal_value_changed().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &HSliderOption::changed));
 	_hscale.set_update_policy (Gtk::UPDATE_DISCONTINUOUS);
@@ -483,7 +482,7 @@ HSliderOption::changed ()
 void
 HSliderOption::add_to_page (OptionEditorPage* p)
 {
-	add_widgets_to_page (p, &_label, &_hscale);
+	add_widgets_to_page (p, _label, &_hscale);
 }
 
 void
@@ -611,9 +610,8 @@ FaderOption::FaderOption (string const & i, string const & n, sigc::slot<gain_t>
 {
 	_db_slider = manage (new ArdourWidgets::HSliderController (&_db_adjustment, std::shared_ptr<PBD::Controllable>(), 220, 18));
 
-	_label.set_text (n + ":");
-	_label.set_alignment (0, 0.5);
-	_label.set_name (X_("OptionsLabel"));
+	_label = manage (left_aligned_label (n + ":"));
+	_label->set_name (X_("OptionsLabel"));
 
 	_fader_centering_box.pack_start (*_db_slider, true, false);
 
@@ -677,7 +675,7 @@ FaderOption::on_key_press (GdkEventKey* ev)
 void
 FaderOption::add_to_page (OptionEditorPage* p)
 {
-	add_widgets_to_page (p, &_label, &_box);
+	add_widgets_to_page (p, _label, &_box);
 }
 
 /*--------------------------*/
@@ -688,9 +686,8 @@ ClockOption::ClockOption (string const & i, string const & n, sigc::slot<std::st
 	, _get (g)
 	, _set (s)
 {
-	_label.set_text (n + ":");
-	_label.set_alignment (0, 0.5);
-	_label.set_name (X_("OptionsLabel"));
+	_label = manage (left_aligned_label (n + ":"));
+	_label->set_name (X_("OptionsLabel"));
 	_clock.ValueChanged.connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ClockOption::save_clock_time));
 }
 
@@ -720,7 +717,7 @@ ClockOption::save_clock_time ()
 void
 ClockOption::add_to_page (OptionEditorPage* p)
 {
-	add_widgets_to_page (p, &_label, &_clock);
+	add_widgets_to_page (p, _label, &_clock);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/option_editor.h b/gtk2_ardour/option_editor.h
index 2670379b5c..de4ecea600 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/option_editor.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/option_editor.h
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ protected:
 	sigc::slot<bool, float> _set;
 	Gtk::Adjustment _adj;
 	Gtk::HScale _hscale;
-	Gtk::Label _label;
+	Gtk::Label* _label;
 	double _mult;
 	bool _log;
 };
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ private:
 	Gtk::Adjustment _db_adjustment;
 	ArdourWidgets::HSliderController* _db_slider;
 	Gtk::Entry _db_display;
-	Gtk::Label _label;
+	Gtk::Label* _label;
 	Gtk::HBox _box;
 	Gtk::VBox _fader_centering_box;
 	sigc::slot<ARDOUR::gain_t> _get;
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ public:
 
 private:
 	void save_clock_time ();
-	Gtk::Label _label;
+	Gtk::Label* _label;
 	AudioClock _clock;
 	sigc::slot<std::string> _get;
 	sigc::slot<bool, std::string> _set;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc b/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc
index 75a19299d7..043c63d8f6 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc
@@ -1151,7 +1151,7 @@ public:
 				sigc::mem_fun (*c, &RCConfiguration::set_plugin_scan_timeout),
 				1, 900, 50, 50)
 	{
-		_label.set_alignment (1.0, 0.5); // match buttons below
+		_label->set_alignment (1.0, 0.5); // match buttons below
 		_hscale.set_digits (0);
 		_hscale.set_draw_value(false);
 		_hscale.add_mark ( 10,  Gtk::POS_TOP, _("1 sec"));