diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_ed.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_ed.cc
index ccd048d69d..9c44026151 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_ed.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_ed.cc
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ ARDOUR_UI::install_actions ()
 	ActionManager::register_toggle_action (common_actions, X_("ToggleMaximalMixer"), _("Maximise Mixer Space"), sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ARDOUR_UI::toggle_mixer_space));
 	act = ActionManager::register_toggle_action (common_actions, X_("KeepTearoffs"), _("Show Toolbars"), mem_fun (*this, &ARDOUR_UI::toggle_keep_tearoffs));
 	ActionManager::session_sensitive_actions.push_back (act);
+	act->set_active(true);
 
 if (Profile->get_mixbus())
 	ActionManager::register_action (common_actions, X_("show-ui-prefs"), _("Show more UI preferences"), sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ARDOUR_UI::show_ui_prefs));