diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_editor.cc b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_editor.cc
index e5608dff05..cd96609e46 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_editor.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_editor.cc
@@ -269,6 +269,9 @@ MidiCueEditor::build_canvas ()
 	rubberband_rect->set_fill_color (UIConfiguration::instance().color_mod ("rubber band rect", "selection rect"));
 	CANVAS_DEBUG_NAME (rubberband_rect, X_("cue rubberband rect"));
 
+	automation_group = new ArdourCanvas::Rectangle (hv_scroll_group);
+	CANVAS_DEBUG_NAME (automation_group, "cue automation group");
+
 	prh = new ArdourCanvas::PianoRollHeader (v_scroll_group, *bg);
 
 	double w, h;
@@ -325,10 +328,17 @@ MidiCueEditor::canvas_allocate (Gtk::Allocation alloc)
 	_visible_canvas_width = alloc.get_width();
 	_visible_canvas_height = alloc.get_height();
 
-	bg->set_size (alloc.get_width(), alloc.get_height());
-
 	if (view) {
-		view->set_height (alloc.get_height() - (n_timebars * timebar_height));
+		double timebars = n_timebars * timebar_height;
+		double minus_timebars = alloc.get_height() - timebars;
+		double midi_view = ceil (minus_timebars * (2./3.));
+		double auto_view = minus_timebars - midi_view;
+
+		view->set_height (midi_view);
+		automation_group->set (ArdourCanvas::Rect (prh->width(), timebars + midi_view, ArdourCanvas::COORD_MAX, auto_view));
+		bg->set_size (alloc.get_width(), midi_view);
+	} else {
+		bg->set_size (alloc.get_width(), alloc.get_height());
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_editor.h b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_editor.h
index 6ef448d6ac..571f6f5b0c 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_editor.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_editor.h
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ class MidiCueEditor : public CueEditor
 	ArdourCanvas::Container* global_rect_group;
 	ArdourCanvas::Container* no_scroll_group;
 	ArdourCanvas::Container* data_group;
+	ArdourCanvas::Rectangle* automation_group;
 	ArdourCanvas::Container* time_line_group;
 	ArdourCanvas::Ruler*     bbt_ruler;
 	ArdourCanvas::Rectangle* tempo_bar;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc
index 57c981653e..9944aa83fe 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ MidiCueView::MidiCueView (std::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::MidiTrack> mt,
 	event_rect->Event.connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &MidiCueView::canvas_event));
 	event_rect->set_fill (false);
 	event_rect->set_outline (false);
+	CANVAS_DEBUG_NAME (event_rect, "cue event rect");
 
 	_note_group->raise_to_top ();