diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/floating_text_entry.cc b/gtk2_ardour/floating_text_entry.cc
index 6808a1f2c1..a78f4a8200 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/floating_text_entry.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/floating_text_entry.cc
@@ -25,14 +25,18 @@
 
 #include "i18n.h"
 
-FloatingTextEntry::FloatingTextEntry ()
+FloatingTextEntry::FloatingTextEntry (const std::string& initial_contents)
 	: ArdourWindow ("")
         , entry_changed (false)
 {
         set_name (X_("FloatingTextEntry"));
 	set_position (Gtk::WIN_POS_MOUSE);
         set_border_width (0);
-        
+
+        if (!initial_contents.empty()) {
+                entry.set_text (initial_contents);
+        }
+
         entry.show ();
         entry.signal_changed().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &FloatingTextEntry::changed));
         entry.signal_activate().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &FloatingTextEntry::activated));
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/floating_text_entry.h b/gtk2_ardour/floating_text_entry.h
index 0471a19596..fc69085dfd 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/floating_text_entry.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/floating_text_entry.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 class FloatingTextEntry : public ArdourWindow
 {
   public:
-        FloatingTextEntry ();
+        FloatingTextEntry (const std::string& initial_contents);
 
         sigc::signal1<void,std::string> use_text;