diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.cc b/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.cc
index fb7a75f4b6..c151b72d14 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.cc
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ AutomationController::AutomationController(boost::shared_ptr<AutomationControl>
 		knob->set_controllable (ac);
 		knob->set_name("processor control knob");
 		_widget = knob;
+		knob->StartGesture.connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &AutomationController::start_touch));
+		knob->StopGesture.connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &AutomationController::end_touch));
 	} else {
 		AutomationBarController* bar = manage(new AutomationBarController(ac, adj));
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/processor_box.cc b/gtk2_ardour/processor_box.cc
index fa1b300e7b..8b353c040e 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/processor_box.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/processor_box.cc
@@ -851,6 +851,9 @@ ProcessorEntry::Control::Control (boost::shared_ptr<AutomationControl> c, string
 		_adjustment.set_page_increment (largestep);
 		_slider.set_default_value (normal);
 
+		_slider.StartGesture.connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Control::start_touch));
+		_slider.StopGesture.connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Control::end_touch));
+
 		_adjustment.signal_value_changed().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &Control::slider_adjusted));
 		c->Changed.connect (_connections, invalidator (*this), boost::bind (&Control::control_changed, this), gui_context ());
 		if (c->alist ()) {
@@ -901,6 +904,26 @@ ProcessorEntry::Control::slider_adjusted ()
 	set_tooltip ();
 }
 
+void
+ProcessorEntry::Control::start_touch ()
+{
+	boost::shared_ptr<AutomationControl> c = _control.lock ();
+	if (!c) {
+		return;
+	}
+	c->start_touch (c->session().transport_frame());
+}
+
+void
+ProcessorEntry::Control::end_touch ()
+{
+	boost::shared_ptr<AutomationControl> c = _control.lock ();
+	if (!c) {
+		return;
+	}
+	c->stop_touch (true, c->session().transport_frame());
+}
+
 void
 ProcessorEntry::Control::button_clicked ()
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/processor_box.h b/gtk2_ardour/processor_box.h
index 66585c88ec..8bb7b55f9b 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/processor_box.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/processor_box.h
@@ -223,6 +223,9 @@ private:
 		std::string state_id () const;
 		void set_tooltip ();
 
+		void start_touch ();
+		void end_touch ();
+
 		boost::weak_ptr<ARDOUR::AutomationControl> _control;
 		/* things for a slider */
 		Gtk::Adjustment _adjustment;