diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_options.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_options.cc
index 9957b4587d..aee08f13b5 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_options.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_options.cc
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ ARDOUR_UI::parameter_changed (std::string p)
 			ActionManager::get_action ("Transport", "ToggleAutoPlay")->set_sensitive (true);
 			ActionManager::get_action ("Transport", "ToggleAutoReturn")->set_sensitive (true);
 		} else {
-			sync_button.set_label (sync_source_to_string (_session->config.get_sync_source()));
+			sync_button.set_label (sync_source_to_string (_session->config.get_sync_source(), true));
 			/* XXX need to make auto-play is off as well as insensitive */
 			ActionManager::get_action ("Transport", "ToggleAutoPlay")->set_sensitive (false);
 			ActionManager::get_action ("Transport", "ToggleAutoReturn")->set_sensitive (false);
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h
index 06dc6d6bd9..0b3fbc7b6c 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ bool path_is_paired (std::string path, std::string& pair_base);
 
 void compute_equal_power_fades (ARDOUR::framecnt_t nframes, float* in, float* out);
 
-const char* sync_source_to_string (ARDOUR::SyncSource src);
+const char* sync_source_to_string (ARDOUR::SyncSource src, bool sh = false);
 ARDOUR::SyncSource string_to_sync_source (std::string str);
 
 const char* edit_mode_to_string (ARDOUR::EditMode);
diff --git a/libs/ardour/utils.cc b/libs/ardour/utils.cc
index 64e06b6f12..f9d16a47b4 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/utils.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/utils.cc
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ edit_mode_to_string (EditMode mode)
 SyncSource
 string_to_sync_source (string str)
 {
-	if (str == _("MIDI Timecode")) {
+	if (str == _("MIDI Timecode") || str == _("MTC")) {
 		return MTC;
 	}
 
@@ -417,15 +417,20 @@ string_to_sync_source (string str)
 	return JACK;
 }
 
+/** @param sh Return a short version of the string */
 const char*
-sync_source_to_string (SyncSource src)
+sync_source_to_string (SyncSource src, bool sh)
 {
 	switch (src) {
 	case JACK:
 		return _("JACK");
 
 	case MTC:
-		return _("MIDI Timecode");
+		if (sh) {
+			return _("MTC");
+		} else {
+			return _("MIDI Timecode");
+		}
 
 	case MIDIClock:
 		return _("MIDI Clock");