diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.cc
index de4c7647f5..d909557258 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.cc
@@ -397,10 +397,21 @@ Mixer_UI::Mixer_UI ()
 
 		_content.pack_start (list_hpane, true, true);
 	} else {
+		scroller.set_policy (Gtk::POLICY_ALWAYS, Gtk::POLICY_NEVER);
+
+		vca_label_bar.set_size_request (-1, 16 + 1); /* must match height in GroupTabs::set_size_request()  + 1 border px*/
+
+		VBox *mbox = manage (new VBox());
+		mbox->pack_start (vca_label_bar, false, false);
+		mbox->pack_start (out_packer, true, true);
+
 		HBox *box = manage (new HBox());
-		box->pack_start (out_packer, false, false);
+		box->pack_start (*mbox, false, false);
 		box->pack_start (scroller, true, true);
-		_content.pack_start(*box);
+		_content.pack_start(*box, false, false);
+
+		mbox->show ();
+		box->show ();
 	}
 
 	update_title ();