diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/export_file_notebook.cc b/gtk2_ardour/export_file_notebook.cc
index 2f74304ce2..0ebee83a68 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/export_file_notebook.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/export_file_notebook.cc
@@ -308,6 +308,12 @@ void
 ExportFileNotebook::FilePage::update_example_filename()
 {
 	if (profile_manager) {
+		if (profile_manager->get_timespans().size() > 1
+				|| profile_manager->get_timespans().front()->timespans->size() > 1) {
+			filename_selector.require_timespan (true);
+		} else {
+			filename_selector.require_timespan (false);
+		}
 
 		std::string example;
 		if (format_state->format) {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/export_filename_selector.cc b/gtk2_ardour/export_filename_selector.cc
index 2eb6540e81..a48ac6a4e0 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/export_filename_selector.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/export_filename_selector.cc
@@ -31,12 +31,14 @@ ExportFilenameSelector::ExportFilenameSelector () :
 
 	label_label (_("Label:"), Gtk::ALIGN_LEFT),
 	session_checkbox (_("Session Name")),
+	timespan_checkbox (_("Timespan Name")),
 	revision_checkbox (_("Revision:")),
 
 	path_label (_("Folder:"), Gtk::ALIGN_LEFT),
 	browse_button (_("Browse")),
 
-	example_filename_label ("", Gtk::ALIGN_LEFT)
+	example_filename_label ("", Gtk::ALIGN_LEFT),
+	_require_timespan (false)
 {
 	include_label.set_markup (_("<i>Build filename(s) from these components:</i>"));
 
@@ -45,13 +47,14 @@ ExportFilenameSelector::ExportFilenameSelector () :
 	pack_start (include_hbox, false, false, 0);
 	pack_start (example_filename_label, false, false, 12);
 
+	include_hbox.pack_start (session_checkbox, false, false, 3);
+	include_hbox.pack_start (timespan_checkbox, false, false, 3);
 	include_hbox.pack_start (label_label, false, false, 3);
 	include_hbox.pack_start (label_entry, false, false, 3);
-	include_hbox.pack_start (session_checkbox, false, false, 3);
-	include_hbox.pack_start (date_format_combo, false, false, 3);
-	include_hbox.pack_start (time_format_combo, false, false, 3);
 	include_hbox.pack_start (revision_checkbox, false, false, 3);
 	include_hbox.pack_start (revision_spinbutton, false, false, 3);
+	include_hbox.pack_start (date_format_combo, false, false, 3);
+	include_hbox.pack_start (time_format_combo, false, false, 3);
 
 	label_entry.set_activates_default ();
 
@@ -95,6 +98,7 @@ ExportFilenameSelector::ExportFilenameSelector () :
 	path_entry.signal_activate().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ExportFilenameSelector::check_folder), false);
 
 	session_checkbox.signal_toggled().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ExportFilenameSelector::change_session_selection));
+	timespan_checkbox.signal_toggled().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ExportFilenameSelector::change_timespan_selection));
 
 	revision_checkbox.signal_toggled().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ExportFilenameSelector::change_revision_selection));
 	revision_spinbutton.signal_value_changed().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ExportFilenameSelector::change_revision_value));
@@ -116,6 +120,7 @@ ExportFilenameSelector::load_state ()
 
 	label_entry.set_text (filename->include_label ? filename->get_label() : "");
 	session_checkbox.set_active (filename->include_session);
+	timespan_checkbox.set_active (filename->include_timespan);
 	revision_checkbox.set_active (filename->include_revision);
 	revision_spinbutton.set_value (filename->get_revision());
 	path_entry.set_text (filename->get_folder());
@@ -276,6 +281,42 @@ ExportFilenameSelector::change_time_format ()
 	CriticalSelectionChanged();
 }
 
+void
+ExportFilenameSelector::require_timespan (bool r)
+{
+	_require_timespan = r;
+	update_timespan_sensitivity ();
+}
+
+void
+ExportFilenameSelector::update_timespan_sensitivity ()
+{
+	bool implicit = _require_timespan;
+
+	if (!implicit
+			&& !filename->include_session
+			&& !filename->include_label
+			&& !filename->include_revision
+			&& !filename->include_channel_config
+			&& !filename->include_channel
+			&& !filename->include_date
+			&& !filename->include_format_name) {
+		implicit = true;
+	}
+	timespan_checkbox.set_inconsistent (implicit);
+}
+
+void
+ExportFilenameSelector::change_timespan_selection ()
+{
+	if (!filename) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	filename->include_timespan = timespan_checkbox.get_active();
+	CriticalSelectionChanged();
+}
+
 void
 ExportFilenameSelector::change_session_selection ()
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/export_filename_selector.h b/gtk2_ardour/export_filename_selector.h
index f6f7551438..54ed296bfe 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/export_filename_selector.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/export_filename_selector.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class ExportFilenameSelector : public Gtk::VBox, public ARDOUR::SessionHandlePtr
 
 	void set_state (ARDOUR::ExportProfileManager::FilenameStatePtr state_, ARDOUR::Session * session_);
 	void set_example_filename (std::string filename);
+	void require_timespan (bool);
 
 	/* Compatibility with other elements */
 
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ class ExportFilenameSelector : public Gtk::VBox, public ARDOUR::SessionHandlePtr
 	void change_time_format ();
 
 	void change_session_selection ();
+	void change_timespan_selection ();
 	void change_revision_selection ();
 	void change_revision_value ();
 
@@ -72,6 +74,7 @@ class ExportFilenameSelector : public Gtk::VBox, public ARDOUR::SessionHandlePtr
 	Gtk::Entry        label_entry;
 
 	Gtk::CheckButton  session_checkbox;
+	Gtk::CheckButton  timespan_checkbox;
 
 	Gtk::CheckButton  revision_checkbox;
 	Gtk::SpinButton   revision_spinbutton;
@@ -115,6 +118,9 @@ class ExportFilenameSelector : public Gtk::VBox, public ARDOUR::SessionHandlePtr
 	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::ListStore> time_format_list;
 	Gtk::ComboBox                time_format_combo;
 
+	/* timespan logic */
+	void update_timespan_sensitivity ();
+	bool _require_timespan;
 };
 
 #endif /* __export_filename_selector_h__ */