diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
index c9d3ca5248..7c8c27d509 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@
     <Option name="tempo bar" value="70727fff"/>
     <Option name="tempo marker" value="f2425bff"/>
     <Option name="time axis frame" value="000000ff"/>
+    <Option name="selected time axis frame" value="ff0000ff"/>
     <Option name="time stretch fill" value="e2b5b596"/>
     <Option name="time stretch outline" value="63636396"/>
     <Option name="transport drag rect" value="969696c6"/>
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h b/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h
index e15aa77692..2c0d6c234b 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_StereoPannerInvertedBackground, "stereo panner inverte
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_TempoBar, "tempo bar")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_TempoMarker, "tempo marker")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_TimeAxisFrame, "time axis frame")
+CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_SelectedTimeAxisFrame, "selected time axis frame")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_TimeStretchFill, "time stretch fill")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_TimeStretchOutline, "time stretch outline")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_TransportDragRect, "transport drag rect")
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.cc b/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.cc
index 495efd578c..8d3d408bc8 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/time_axis_view_item.cc
@@ -750,7 +750,11 @@ TimeAxisViewItem::set_frame_color()
         frame->property_fill_color_rgba() = f;
 
         if (!_recregion) {
-                f = ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_TimeAxisFrame.get();
+                if (_selected) {
+                        f = ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_SelectedTimeAxisFrame.get();
+                } else {
+                        f = ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_TimeAxisFrame.get();
+                }
                 
                 if (!rect_visible) {
                         f = UINT_RGBA_CHANGE_A (f, 64);