diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_view.cc b/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_view.cc
index e1aaf2a7a7..138601bf07 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_view.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_view.cc
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ AudioRegionView::init (Gdk::Color const & basic_color, bool wfd)
 	fade_out_shape->property_fill_color_rgba() = fade_color;
 	fade_out_shape->set_data ("regionview", this);
 
-	{
+	if (!_recregion) {
 		uint32_t r,g,b,a;
 		UINT_TO_RGBA(fill_color,&r,&g,&b,&a);
 
@@ -231,9 +231,15 @@ AudioRegionView::init (Gdk::Color const & basic_color, bool wfd)
 	reset_width_dependent_items (_pixel_width);
 
 	fade_in_shape->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_fade_in_event), fade_in_shape, this));
-	fade_in_handle->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_fade_in_handle_event), fade_in_handle, this));
+	if (fade_in_handle) {
+		fade_in_handle->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_fade_in_handle_event), fade_in_handle, this));
+	}
+
 	fade_out_shape->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_fade_out_event), fade_out_shape, this));
-	fade_out_handle->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_fade_out_handle_event), fade_out_handle, this));
+
+	if (fade_out_handle) {
+		fade_out_handle->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_fade_out_handle_event), fade_out_handle, this));
+	}
 
 	set_colors ();
 
@@ -650,7 +656,9 @@ AudioRegionView::reset_fade_in_shape_width (nframes_t width)
 	delete points;
 
 	/* ensure trim handle stays on top */
-	frame_handle_start->raise_to_top();
+	if (frame_handle_start) {
+		frame_handle_start->raise_to_top();
+	}
 }
 
 void
@@ -741,7 +749,9 @@ AudioRegionView::reset_fade_out_shape_width (nframes_t width)
 	delete points;
 
 	/* ensure trim handle stays on top */
-	frame_handle_end->raise_to_top();
+	if (frame_handle_end) {
+		frame_handle_end->raise_to_top();
+	}
 }
 
 void
@@ -1399,8 +1409,10 @@ AudioRegionView::update_coverage_frames (LayerDisplay d)
 {
 	RegionView::update_coverage_frames (d);
 
-	fade_in_handle->raise_to_top ();
-	fade_out_handle->raise_to_top ();
+	if (fade_in_handle) {
+		fade_in_handle->raise_to_top ();
+		fade_out_handle->raise_to_top ();
+	}
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_view.h b/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_view.h
index 270f982146..82bc2a08ea 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_view.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_view.h
@@ -137,8 +137,8 @@ class AudioRegionView : public RegionView
     ArdourCanvas::SimpleLine*        zero_line;
     ArdourCanvas::Polygon*           fade_in_shape;
     ArdourCanvas::Polygon*           fade_out_shape;
-    ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect*        fade_in_handle;
-    ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect*        fade_out_handle;
+    ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect*        fade_in_handle; ///< fade in handle, or 0
+    ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect*        fade_out_handle; ///< fade out handle, or 0
 
     AudioRegionGainLine * gain_line;
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/marker_view.cc b/gtk2_ardour/marker_view.cc
index 23397d6776..a0e8f2bbf0 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/marker_view.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/marker_view.cc
@@ -64,8 +64,10 @@ MarkerView::MarkerView(ArdourCanvas::Group *parent,
 
 	// hook up our canvas events
 
-	frame_handle_start->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_markerview_start_handle_event), frame_handle_start, this));
-	frame_handle_end->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_markerview_end_handle_event), frame_handle_end, this));
+	if (frame_handle_start) {
+		frame_handle_start->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_markerview_start_handle_event), frame_handle_start, this));
+		frame_handle_end->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_markerview_end_handle_event), frame_handle_end, this));
+	}
 	group->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_markerview_item_view_event), group, this));
 
 	set_position(start, this) ;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/region_view.cc b/gtk2_ardour/region_view.cc
index bbe854a6a3..8a9767bb02 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/region_view.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/region_view.cc
@@ -157,16 +157,19 @@ RegionView::init (Gdk::Color const & basic_color, bool wfd)
 		name_highlight->set_data ("regionview", this);
 		name_highlight->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_region_view_name_highlight_event), name_highlight, this));
 
-		frame_handle_start->set_data ("regionview", this);
-		frame_handle_start->set_data ("isleft", (void*) 1);
-		frame_handle_start->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_frame_handle_event), frame_handle_start, this));
+		if (frame_handle_start) {
+			frame_handle_start->set_data ("regionview", this);
+			frame_handle_start->set_data ("isleft", (void*) 1);
+			frame_handle_start->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_frame_handle_event), frame_handle_start, this));
+			frame_handle_start->raise_to_top();
+		}
 
-		frame_handle_end->set_data ("regionview", this);
-		frame_handle_end->set_data ("isleft", (void*) 0);
-		frame_handle_end->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_frame_handle_event), frame_handle_end, this));
-
-		frame_handle_start->raise_to_top();
-		frame_handle_end->raise_to_top();
+		if (frame_handle_end) {
+			frame_handle_end->set_data ("regionview", this);
+			frame_handle_end->set_data ("isleft", (void*) 0);
+			frame_handle_end->signal_event().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (PublicEditor::instance(), &PublicEditor::canvas_frame_handle_event), frame_handle_end, this));
+			frame_handle_end->raise_to_top();
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (name_pixbuf) {
@@ -673,6 +676,8 @@ RegionView::update_coverage_frames (LayerDisplay d)
 		cr->property_x2() = trackview.editor().frame_to_pixel (end - position);
 	}
 
-	frame_handle_start->raise_to_top ();
-	frame_handle_end->raise_to_top ();
+	if (frame_handle_start) {
+		frame_handle_start->raise_to_top ();
+		frame_handle_end->raise_to_top ();
+	}
 }
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.cc b/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.cc
index 6fd4be08a5..164e4d2420 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.cc
@@ -204,11 +204,14 @@ TimeAxisViewItem::init (
 	}
 
 	/* create our grab handles used for trimming/duration etc */
-	frame_handle_start = new ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect (*group, 0.0, TimeAxisViewItem::GRAB_HANDLE_LENGTH, 5.0, trackview.current_height());
-	frame_handle_start->property_outline_what() = 0x0;
-
-	frame_handle_end = new ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect (*group, 0.0, TimeAxisViewItem::GRAB_HANDLE_LENGTH, 5.0, trackview.current_height());
-	frame_handle_end->property_outline_what() = 0x0;
+	if (!_recregion) {
+		frame_handle_start = new ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect (*group, 0.0, TimeAxisViewItem::GRAB_HANDLE_LENGTH, 5.0, trackview.current_height());
+		frame_handle_start->property_outline_what() = 0x0;
+		frame_handle_end = new ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect (*group, 0.0, TimeAxisViewItem::GRAB_HANDLE_LENGTH, 5.0, trackview.current_height());
+		frame_handle_end->property_outline_what() = 0x0;
+	} else {
+		frame_handle_start = frame_handle_end = 0;
+	}
 
 	set_color (base_color);
 
@@ -527,8 +530,10 @@ TimeAxisViewItem::set_height (double height)
 
 	if (frame) {
 		frame->property_y2() = height - 1;
-		frame_handle_start->property_y2() = height - 1;
-		frame_handle_end->property_y2() = height - 1;
+		if (frame_handle_start) {
+			frame_handle_start->property_y2() = height - 1;
+			frame_handle_end->property_y2() = height - 1;
+		}
 	}
 
 	vestigial_frame->property_y2() = height - 1;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.h b/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.h
index 090df5ccca..16b558c47b 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.h
@@ -229,8 +229,10 @@ protected:
 	ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect* frame;
 	ArdourCanvas::Pixbuf*     name_pixbuf;
 	ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect* name_highlight;
-	ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect* frame_handle_start;
-	ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect* frame_handle_end;
+
+	/* with these two values, if frame_handle_start == 0 then frame_handle_end will also be 0 */
+	ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect* frame_handle_start; ///< `frame' (fade) handle for the start of the item, or 0
+	ArdourCanvas::SimpleRect* frame_handle_end; ///< `frame' (fade) handle for the end of the item, or 0
 	
 	double _height;
 	Visibility visibility;