diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
index e66ca1ef22..8be0e61a7b 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
 #include "ardour/profile.h"
 #include "ardour/rc_configuration.h"
+#include "ardour/smf_source.h"
 
 #include "ardour_ui.h"
 #include "editor.h"
@@ -422,6 +423,23 @@ void
 Editor::drop_paths_part_two (const vector<string>& paths, framepos_t frame, double ypos, bool copy)
 {
 	RouteTimeAxisView* tv;
+	
+	/* MIDI files must always be imported, because we consider them
+	 * writable. So split paths into two vectors, and follow the import
+	 * path on the MIDI part.
+	 */
+
+	vector<string> midi_paths;
+	vector<string> audio_paths;
+
+	for (vector<string>::const_iterator i = paths.begin(); i != paths.end(); ++i) {
+		if (SMFSource::safe_midi_file_extension (*i)) {
+			midi_paths.push_back (*i);
+		} else {
+			audio_paths.push_back (*i);
+		}
+	}
+
 
 	std::pair<TimeAxisView*, int> const tvp = trackview_by_y_position (ypos);
 	if (tvp.first == 0) {
@@ -430,10 +448,12 @@ Editor::drop_paths_part_two (const vector<string>& paths, framepos_t frame, doub
 
 		frame = 0;
 
+		do_import (midi_paths, Editing::ImportDistinctFiles, ImportAsTrack, SrcBest, frame);
+		
 		if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files() || copy) {
-			do_import (paths, Editing::ImportDistinctFiles, Editing::ImportAsTrack, SrcBest, frame);
+			do_import (audio_paths, Editing::ImportDistinctFiles, Editing::ImportAsTrack, SrcBest, frame);
 		} else {
-			do_embed (paths, Editing::ImportDistinctFiles, ImportAsTrack, frame);
+			do_embed (audio_paths, Editing::ImportDistinctFiles, ImportAsTrack, frame);
 		}
 
 	} else if ((tv = dynamic_cast<RouteTimeAxisView*> (tvp.first)) != 0) {
@@ -444,10 +464,12 @@ Editor::drop_paths_part_two (const vector<string>& paths, framepos_t frame, doub
 			/* select the track, then embed/import */
 			selection->set (tv);
 
+			do_import (midi_paths, Editing::ImportSerializeFiles, ImportToTrack, SrcBest, frame);
+
 			if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files() || copy) {
-				do_import (paths, Editing::ImportSerializeFiles, Editing::ImportToTrack, SrcBest, frame);
+				do_import (audio_paths, Editing::ImportSerializeFiles, Editing::ImportToTrack, SrcBest, frame);
 			} else {
-				do_embed (paths, Editing::ImportSerializeFiles, ImportToTrack, frame);
+				do_embed (audio_paths, Editing::ImportSerializeFiles, ImportToTrack, frame);
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
index 7cd25ca92c..e76b4ce8ee 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
@@ -1031,46 +1031,59 @@ Editor::track_canvas_drag_motion (Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::DragContext> const& context,
 	(void) event_frame (&event, &px, &py);
 
 	std::pair<TimeAxisView*, int> const tv = trackview_by_y_position (py);
-
+	bool can_drop = false;
+	
 	if (tv.first != 0) {
 
+		/* over a time axis view of some kind */
+
 		rtav = dynamic_cast<RouteTimeAxisView*> (tv.first);
 		
 		if (rtav != 0 && rtav->is_track ()) {
-
-			region = _regions->get_dragged_region ();
+			/* over a track, not a bus */
+			can_drop = true;
+		}
 			
-			if (region) {
-	
-				if ((boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<AudioRegion> (region) != 0 &&
-				    dynamic_cast<AudioTimeAxisView*> (tv.first) != 0) ||
-				    (boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<MidiRegion> (region) != 0 &&
-				     dynamic_cast<MidiTimeAxisView*> (tv.first) != 0)) {
 
-					/* audio to audio 
-					   OR 
-					   midi to midi
-					*/
+	} else {
+		/* not over a time axis view, so drop is possible */
+		can_drop = true;
+	}
 
-					context->drag_status (context->get_suggested_action(), time);
-					return true;
-				}
-			} else {
-				/* DND originating from outside ardour
-				 *
-				 * TODO: check if file is audio/midi, allow drops on same track-type only,
-				 * currently: if audio is dropped on a midi-track, it is only added to the region-list
-				 */
-				if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files()) {
-					context->drag_status(Gdk::ACTION_COPY, time);
-				} else {
-					if ((context->get_actions() & (Gdk::ACTION_COPY | Gdk::ACTION_LINK | Gdk::ACTION_MOVE)) == Gdk::ACTION_COPY)
-						context->drag_status(Gdk::ACTION_COPY, time);
-					else
-						context->drag_status(Gdk::ACTION_LINK, time);
-				}
+	if (can_drop) {
+		region = _regions->get_dragged_region ();
+		
+		if (region) {
+			
+			if ((boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<AudioRegion> (region) != 0 &&
+			     dynamic_cast<AudioTimeAxisView*> (tv.first) != 0) ||
+			    (boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<MidiRegion> (region) != 0 &&
+			     dynamic_cast<MidiTimeAxisView*> (tv.first) != 0)) {
+				
+				/* audio to audio 
+				   OR 
+				   midi to midi
+				*/
+				
+				context->drag_status (context->get_suggested_action(), time);
 				return true;
 			}
+		} else {
+			/* DND originating from outside ardour
+			 *
+			 * TODO: check if file is audio/midi, allow drops on same track-type only,
+			 * currently: if audio is dropped on a midi-track, it is only added to the region-list
+			 */
+			if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files()) {
+				context->drag_status(Gdk::ACTION_COPY, time);
+			} else {
+				if ((context->get_actions() & (Gdk::ACTION_COPY | Gdk::ACTION_LINK | Gdk::ACTION_MOVE)) == Gdk::ACTION_COPY) {
+					context->drag_status(Gdk::ACTION_COPY, time);
+				} else {
+					context->drag_status(Gdk::ACTION_LINK, time);
+				}
+			}
+			return true;
 		}
 	}