diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_mixer.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_mixer.cc
index 12b5ff3f30..27ba1e5e21 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_mixer.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_mixer.cc
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #include <glibmm/miscutils.h>
+#include <gtkmm/messagedialog.h>
 #include <gtkmm2ext/utils.h>
 #include <gtkmm2ext/window_title.h>
 
@@ -75,6 +76,23 @@ Editor::show_editor_mixer (bool yn)
 
 	show_editor_mixer_when_tracks_arrive = false;
 
+	if (yn) {
+		Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Window> win = get_window ();
+		Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Screen> screen;
+		
+		if (get_window()) {
+			 screen = win->get_screen();
+		} else {
+			screen = Gdk::Screen::get_default();
+		}
+
+		if (screen && screen->get_height() < 700) {
+			Gtk::MessageDialog msg ("This screen is not tall enough to display the editor mixer");
+			msg.run ();
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (!_session) {
 		show_editor_mixer_when_tracks_arrive = yn;
 		return;