diff --git a/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.cc b/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.cc
index df7ec96324..a47450cf4f 100644
--- a/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.cc
+++ b/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.cc
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ UI::UI (string namestr, int *argc, char ***argv)
 {
 	theMain = new Main (argc, argv);
 
+	pthread_set_name ("gui");
+	
 	_active = false;
 
 	if (!theGtkUI) {