diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/recorder_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/recorder_ui.cc
index 03ec1d9781..290206a54f 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/recorder_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/recorder_ui.cc
@@ -144,10 +144,16 @@ RecorderUI::RecorderUI ()
 	_scroller_base.add_events (Gdk::BUTTON_PRESS_MASK|Gdk::BUTTON_RELEASE_MASK);
 	_scroller_base.signal_button_release_event().connect (sigc::mem_fun(*this, &RecorderUI::scroller_button_release));
 
+	/* create a button to add mixer strips */
+	_add_route_button.add (*manage (new Image (Stock::ADD, ICON_SIZE_BUTTON)));
+	_add_route_button.set_can_focus(false);
+	_add_route_button.signal_clicked().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*ARDOUR_UI::instance(), &ARDOUR_UI::add_route));
+
 	/* LAYOUT */
 
 	_rec_area.set_spacing (0);
 	_rec_area.pack_end (_scroller_base, true, true);
+	_rec_area.pack_end (_add_route_button, false, true);
 	_rec_area.pack_end (_ruler_sep, false, false, 0);
 
 	/* HBox [ groups | tracks] */
@@ -234,6 +240,8 @@ RecorderUI::RecorderUI ()
 	_space.show ();
 	_ruler_box.show ();
 	_ruler_sep.show ();
+	_add_route_button.show_all ();
+	_scroller_base.show ();
 	_toolbar_sep.show ();
 	_rec_area.show ();
 	_rec_scroller.show ();
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/recorder_ui.h b/gtk2_ardour/recorder_ui.h
index 8f67a9f859..42178e1a37 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/recorder_ui.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/recorder_ui.h
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ private:
 	Gtk::ScrolledWindow  _meter_scroller;
 	Gtk::VBox            _meter_area;
 	Gtk::Table           _meter_table;
+	Gtk::Button          _add_route_button;
 	Gtk::EventBox        _scroller_base;
 
 	ArdourWidgets::ArdourHSpacer _toolbar_sep;