diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/axis_view.cc b/gtk2_ardour/axis_view.cc
index 6aec4c62eb..1144fb1e68 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/axis_view.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/axis_view.cc
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "ardour_ui.h"
 #include "gui_object.h"
 #include "axis_view.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 #include "i18n.h"
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -60,41 +61,7 @@ AxisView::~AxisView()
 Gdk::Color
 AxisView::unique_random_color()
 {
-  	Gdk::Color newcolor;
-
-	while (1) {
-
-		/* avoid neon/glowing tones by limiting them to the
-		   "inner section" (paler) of a color wheel/circle.
-		*/
-
-		const int32_t max_saturation = 48000; // 65535 would open up the whole color wheel
-
-		newcolor.set_red (random() % max_saturation);
-		newcolor.set_blue (random() % max_saturation);
-		newcolor.set_green (random() % max_saturation);
-
-		if (used_colors.size() == 0) {
-			used_colors.push_back (newcolor);
-			return newcolor;
-		}
-
-		for (list<Gdk::Color>::iterator i = used_colors.begin(); i != used_colors.end(); ++i) {
-		  Gdk::Color c = *i;
-			float rdelta, bdelta, gdelta;
-
-			rdelta = newcolor.get_red() - c.get_red();
-			bdelta = newcolor.get_blue() - c.get_blue();
-			gdelta = newcolor.get_green() - c.get_green();
-
-			if (sqrt (rdelta*rdelta + bdelta*bdelta + gdelta*gdelta) > 25.0) {
-				used_colors.push_back (newcolor);
-				return newcolor;
-			}
-		}
-
-		/* XXX need throttle here to make sure we don't spin for ever */
-	}
+	return ::unique_random_color (used_colors);
 }
 
 string
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_group_tabs.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_group_tabs.cc
index d98c064bff..9b21432fef 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_group_tabs.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_group_tabs.cc
@@ -61,7 +61,9 @@ EditorGroupTabs::compute_tabs () const
 
 			tab.from = y;
 			tab.group = g;
-			tab.colour = (*i)->color ();
+			if (g) {
+				tab.color = group_color (g);
+			}
 		}
 
 		y += (*i)->effective_height ();
@@ -81,7 +83,7 @@ EditorGroupTabs::draw_tab (cairo_t* cr, Tab const & tab) const
 	double const arc_radius = _width;
 
 	if (tab.group && tab.group->is_active()) {
-		cairo_set_source_rgba (cr, tab.colour.get_red_p (), tab.colour.get_green_p (), tab.colour.get_blue_p (), 1);
+		cairo_set_source_rgba (cr, tab.color.get_red_p (), tab.color.get_green_p (), tab.color.get_blue_p (), 1);
 	} else {
 		cairo_set_source_rgba (cr, 1, 1, 1, 0.2);
 	}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/group_tabs.cc b/gtk2_ardour/group_tabs.cc
index ab4dcd1923..ec80bc4291 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/group_tabs.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/group_tabs.cc
@@ -27,12 +27,16 @@
 #include "group_tabs.h"
 #include "keyboard.h"
 #include "i18n.h"
+#include "ardour_ui.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace Gtk;
 using namespace ARDOUR;
 using Gtkmm2ext::Keyboard;
 
+list<Gdk::Color> GroupTabs::_used_colors;
+
 GroupTabs::GroupTabs ()
 	: _menu (0)
 	, _dragging (0)
@@ -501,3 +505,61 @@ GroupTabs::remove_group (RouteGroup* g)
 {
 	_session->remove_route_group (*g);
 }
+
+/** Set the color of the tab of a route group */
+void
+GroupTabs::set_group_color (RouteGroup* group, Gdk::Color color)
+{
+	assert (group);
+	
+	GUIObjectState& gui_state = *ARDOUR_UI::instance()->gui_object_state;
+
+	char buf[64];
+	snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "%d:%d:%d", color.get_red(), color.get_green(), color.get_blue());
+	gui_state.set (group_gui_id (group), "color", buf);
+}
+
+/** @return the ID string to use for the GUI state of a route group */
+string
+GroupTabs::group_gui_id (RouteGroup* group)
+{
+	assert (group);
+
+	char buf[64];
+	snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "route_group %s", group->id().to_s().c_str ());
+
+	return buf;
+}
+
+/** @return the color to use for a route group tab */
+Gdk::Color
+GroupTabs::group_color (RouteGroup* group)
+{
+	assert (group);
+	
+	GUIObjectState& gui_state = *ARDOUR_UI::instance()->gui_object_state;
+
+	string const gui_id = group_gui_id (group);
+
+	bool empty;
+	string const color = gui_state.get_string (gui_id, "color", &empty);
+	if (empty) {
+		/* no color has yet been set, so use a random one */
+		Gdk::Color const color = unique_random_color (_used_colors);
+		set_group_color (group, color);
+		return color;
+	}
+
+	Gdk::Color c;
+
+	int r, g, b;
+
+	sscanf (color.c_str(), "%d:%d:%d", &r, &g, &b);
+
+	c.set_red (r);
+	c.set_green (g);
+	c.set_blue (b);
+	
+	return c;
+}
+
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/group_tabs.h b/gtk2_ardour/group_tabs.h
index 7362067251..ed4a24709f 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/group_tabs.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/group_tabs.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace ARDOUR {
 
 class Editor;
 
-/** Parent class for tabs which represent route groups as coloured tabs;
+/** Parent class for tabs which represent route groups as colored tabs;
  *  Currently used on the left-hand side of the editor and at the top of the mixer.
  */
 class GroupTabs : public CairoWidget, public ARDOUR::SessionHandlePtr
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ public:
 
 	void run_new_group_dialog (ARDOUR::RouteList const &);
 
+	static void set_group_color (ARDOUR::RouteGroup *, Gdk::Color);
+	static std::string group_gui_id (ARDOUR::RouteGroup *);
+	static Gdk::Color group_color (ARDOUR::RouteGroup *);
+
 protected:
 
 	struct Tab {
@@ -53,7 +57,7 @@ protected:
 
 		double from;
 		double to;
-		Gdk::Color colour; ///< colour
+		Gdk::Color color; ///< color
 		ARDOUR::RouteGroup* group; ///< route group
 	};
 
@@ -117,4 +121,7 @@ private:
 	double _drag_min; ///< minimum position for drag
 	double _drag_max; ///< maximum position for drag
 	double _drag_first; ///< first mouse pointer position during drag
+
+	/** colors that have been used for new route group tabs */
+	static std::list<Gdk::Color> _used_colors;
 };
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_group_tabs.cc b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_group_tabs.cc
index 6c97a8f043..b74455b28d 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_group_tabs.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_group_tabs.cc
@@ -67,7 +67,10 @@ MixerGroupTabs::compute_tabs () const
 
 			tab.from = x;
 			tab.group = g;
-			tab.colour = s->color ();
+
+			if (g) {
+				tab.color = group_color (g);
+			}
 		}
 
 		x += s->get_width ();
@@ -87,7 +90,7 @@ MixerGroupTabs::draw_tab (cairo_t* cr, Tab const & tab) const
 	double const arc_radius = _height;
 
 	if (tab.group && tab.group->is_active()) {
-		cairo_set_source_rgba (cr, tab.colour.get_red_p (), tab.colour.get_green_p (), tab.colour.get_blue_p (), 1);
+		cairo_set_source_rgba (cr, tab.color.get_red_p (), tab.color.get_green_p (), tab.color.get_blue_p (), 1);
 	} else {
 		cairo_set_source_rgba (cr, 1, 1, 1, 0.2);
 	}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_group_dialog.cc b/gtk2_ardour/route_group_dialog.cc
index 9d58ea816c..acc4eefbcc 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_group_dialog.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_group_dialog.cc
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "ardour/route_group.h"
 #include "ardour/session.h"
 #include "route_group_dialog.h"
+#include "group_tabs.h"
 #include "i18n.h"
 #include <iostream>
 
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ RouteGroupDialog::RouteGroupDialog (RouteGroup* g, bool creating_new)
 	_select.set_active (_group->is_select());
 	_edit.set_active (_group->is_edit());
 	_route_active.set_active (_group->is_route_active());
+	_color.set_color (GroupTabs::group_color (_group));
 
 	_name.signal_changed().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &RouteGroupDialog::update));
 	_active.signal_toggled().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &RouteGroupDialog::update));
@@ -105,10 +107,11 @@ RouteGroupDialog::RouteGroupDialog (RouteGroup* g, bool creating_new)
  	_select.signal_toggled().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &RouteGroupDialog::update));
  	_edit.signal_toggled().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &RouteGroupDialog::update));
  	_route_active.signal_toggled().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &RouteGroupDialog::update));
+	_color.signal_color_set().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &RouteGroupDialog::update));
 
 	gain_toggled ();
 
-	Table* table = manage (new Table (8, 3, false));
+	Table* table = manage (new Table (11, 4, false));
 	table->set_row_spacings	(6);
 
 	l = manage (new Label ("", Gtk::ALIGN_LEFT, Gtk::ALIGN_CENTER, false));
@@ -129,6 +132,12 @@ RouteGroupDialog::RouteGroupDialog (RouteGroup* g, bool creating_new)
 	table->attach (_edit, 1, 3, 7, 8, Gtk::FILL, Gtk::FILL, 0, 0);
 	table->attach (_route_active, 1, 3, 8, 9, Gtk::FILL, Gtk::FILL, 0, 0);
 
+	HBox* b = manage (new HBox);
+	l = manage (new Label (_("Color"), Gtk::ALIGN_LEFT, Gtk::ALIGN_CENTER, false));
+	b->pack_start (*l, Gtk::SHRINK, Gtk::SHRINK);
+	b->pack_start (_color, Gtk::FILL, Gtk::FILL);
+	table->attach (*b, 1, 3, 10, 11, Gtk::FILL, Gtk::FILL, 0, 0);
+
 	options_box->pack_start (*table, false, true);
 	main_vbox->pack_start (*options_box, false, true);
 
@@ -196,6 +205,8 @@ RouteGroupDialog::update ()
 	plist.add (Properties::active, _active.get_active());
 	plist.add (Properties::name, string (_name.get_text()));
 
+	GroupTabs::set_group_color (_group, _color.get_color ());
+	
 	_group->apply_changes (plist);
 }
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_group_dialog.h b/gtk2_ardour/route_group_dialog.h
index 712f463a87..9fa242f7e0 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_group_dialog.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_group_dialog.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <gtkmm/dialog.h>
 #include <gtkmm/entry.h>
 #include <gtkmm/checkbutton.h>
+#include <gtkmm/colorbutton.h>
 
 #include "ardour_dialog.h"
 
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ private:
 	Gtk::CheckButton _edit;
 	Gtk::CheckButton _route_active;
 	Gtk::Button* _ok;
+	Gtk::ColorButton _color;
 
 	void gain_toggled ();
 	void update ();
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc b/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
index add148d0b0..7c71170307 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <cctype>
 #include <fstream>
+#include <list>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <libart_lgpl/art_misc.h>
 #include <gtkmm/rc.h>
@@ -938,4 +939,42 @@ escape_underscores (string const & s)
 	return o;
 }
 
+Gdk::Color
+unique_random_color (list<Gdk::Color>& used_colors)
+{
+  	Gdk::Color newcolor;
 
+	while (1) {
+
+		/* avoid neon/glowing tones by limiting them to the
+		   "inner section" (paler) of a color wheel/circle.
+		*/
+
+		const int32_t max_saturation = 48000; // 65535 would open up the whole color wheel
+
+		newcolor.set_red (random() % max_saturation);
+		newcolor.set_blue (random() % max_saturation);
+		newcolor.set_green (random() % max_saturation);
+
+		if (used_colors.size() == 0) {
+			used_colors.push_back (newcolor);
+			return newcolor;
+		}
+
+		for (list<Gdk::Color>::iterator i = used_colors.begin(); i != used_colors.end(); ++i) {
+		  Gdk::Color c = *i;
+			float rdelta, bdelta, gdelta;
+
+			rdelta = newcolor.get_red() - c.get_red();
+			bdelta = newcolor.get_blue() - c.get_blue();
+			gdelta = newcolor.get_green() - c.get_green();
+
+			if (sqrt (rdelta*rdelta + bdelta*bdelta + gdelta*gdelta) > 25.0) {
+				used_colors.push_back (newcolor);
+				return newcolor;
+			}
+		}
+
+		/* XXX need throttle here to make sure we don't spin for ever */
+	}
+}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/utils.h b/gtk2_ardour/utils.h
index c019989d94..d511b0e718 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/utils.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/utils.h
@@ -91,4 +91,6 @@ void resize_window_to_proportion_of_monitor (Gtk::Window*, int, int);
 
 std::string escape_underscores (std::string const &);
 
+Gdk::Color unique_random_color (std::list<Gdk::Color> &);
+
 #endif /* __ardour_gtk_utils_h__ */
diff --git a/libs/ardour/route_group.cc b/libs/ardour/route_group.cc
index 7352112217..ef7e218d67 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/route_group.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/route_group.cc
@@ -213,10 +213,14 @@ RouteGroup::get_max_factor(gain_t factor)
 }
 
 XMLNode&
-RouteGroup::get_state (void)
+RouteGroup::get_state ()
 {
 	XMLNode *node = new XMLNode ("RouteGroup");
 
+	char buf[64];
+	id().print (buf, sizeof (buf));
+	node->add_property ("id", buf);
+
 	add_properties (*node);
 
 	if (!routes->empty()) {
@@ -239,10 +243,14 @@ RouteGroup::set_state (const XMLNode& node, int version)
 		return set_state_2X (node, version);
 	}
 
-	set_values (node);
-
 	const XMLProperty *prop;
 
+	if ((prop = node.property ("id")) != 0) {
+		_id = prop->value();
+	}
+
+	set_values (node);
+
 	if ((prop = node.property ("routes")) != 0) {
 		stringstream str (prop->value());
 		vector<string> ids;