diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
index c5343ee6a3..6daab9cb2b 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
     <Option name="midi note outline mid" value="ffff22b0"/>
     <Option name="midi note outline min" value="22ff22b0"/>
     <Option name="midi note selected outline" value="5566ffee"/>
+    <Option name="midi note velocity text" value="000000ff"/>
     <Option name="midi program change fill" value="0000ffa0"/>
     <Option name="midi program change outline" value="a7a7d4ff"/>
     <Option name="midi select rect fill" value="8888ff88"/>
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.cc b/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.cc
index d744044d50..2ea18315f5 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.cc
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ CanvasNoteEvent::show_velocity()
 	velo << int(_note->velocity());
 	_text->property_text() = velo.str();
 	_text->property_justification() = Gtk::JUSTIFY_CENTER;
-	_text->property_fill_color_rgba() = ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_MidiNoteSelectedOutline.get();
+	_text->property_fill_color_rgba() = ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_MidiNoteVelocityText.get();
 	_text->show();
 	_text->lower_to_bottom();
 	_text->raise(2);
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h b/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h
index 530d323961..6b14d257ad 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteOutlineMid, "midi note outline mid")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteOutlineMin, "midi note outline min")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteOutlineInactiveChannel, "midi note outline inactive channel")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteSelectedOutline, "midi note selected outline")
+CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteVelocityText, "midi note velocity text")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiProgramChangeFill, "midi program change fill")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiProgramChangeOutline, "midi program change outline")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiSelectRectFill, "midi select rect fill")