diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
index fcdf1d08a7..3750cdd768 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
@@ -2187,12 +2187,14 @@ ARDOUR_UI::build_session_from_nsd (const Glib::ustring& session_path, const Glib
 
 		/// @todo some minor tweaks.
 
-		if (_startup->connect_outs_to_master()) {
-			oconnect = AutoConnectMaster;
-		} else if (_startup->connect_outs_to_physical()) {
-			oconnect = AutoConnectPhysical;
-		} else {
-			oconnect = AutoConnectOption (0);
+		oconnect = AutoConnectOption (0);
+
+		if (_startup->connect_outputs ()) {
+			if (_startup->connect_outs_to_master()) {
+				oconnect = AutoConnectMaster;
+			} else if (_startup->connect_outs_to_physical()) {
+				oconnect = AutoConnectPhysical;
+			}
 		}
 
 		nphysin = (uint32_t) _startup->input_limit_count();