diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc b/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc
index 0af9f234d7..1dd8c7b86e 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc
@@ -109,7 +109,9 @@ AudioClock::AudioClock (const string& clock_name, bool transient, const string&
 	, xscale (1.0)
 	, yscale (1.0)
 {
-	set_flags (CAN_FOCUS);
+	if (editable) {
+		set_flags (CAN_FOCUS);
+	}
 
 	_layout = Pango::Layout::create (get_pango_context());
 	_layout->set_attributes (normal_attributes);