diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc b/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc
index 6a992db83c..44d21c39ad 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ RouteTimeAxisView::set_route (boost::shared_ptr<Route> rt)
 		gm.set_fader_name ("AudioBusFader");
 	}
 	
-	controls_hbox.pack_start(gm.get_level_meter(), false, false, 3);
+	controls_hbox.pack_start(gm.get_level_meter(), false, false, 2);
 	_route->meter_change.connect (*this, invalidator (*this), bind (&RouteTimeAxisView::meter_changed, this), gui_context());
 	_route->input()->changed.connect (*this, invalidator (*this), boost::bind (&RouteTimeAxisView::io_changed, this, _1, _2), gui_context());
 	_route->output()->changed.connect (*this, invalidator (*this), boost::bind (&RouteTimeAxisView::io_changed, this, _1, _2), gui_context());
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view.cc b/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view.cc
index 08b00ec7fa..36594b10f7 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view.cc
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ TimeAxisView::TimeAxisView (ARDOUR::Session* sess, PublicEditor& ed, TimeAxisVie
 	controls_hbox.pack_start (controls_ebox, true, true);
 	controls_hbox.show ();
 
-	time_axis_vbox.pack_start (controls_hbox, true, true);
+	time_axis_vbox.pack_start (controls_hbox, true, true, 2);
 	time_axis_vbox.pack_end (*separator, false, false);
 	time_axis_vbox.show();