diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
index 6c4c1464aa..bd8e82f159 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
@@ -174,6 +174,15 @@ MixerStrip::MixerStrip (Mixer_UI& mx, Session* sess, std::shared_ptr<Route> rt,
 {
 	init ();
 	set_route (rt);
+
+	if (is_master () && !_route->comment().empty () && _session->config.get_show_master_bus_comment_on_load () && self_destruct) {
+		open_comment_editor ();
+		_comment_window->hide ();
+		_comment_window->set_position (Gtk::WIN_POS_CENTER_ON_PARENT);
+		_comment_window->present ();
+		/* show only once */
+		_session->config.set_show_master_bus_comment_on_load (false);
+	}
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc
index 340f945be3..225d26e5f8 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc
@@ -127,9 +127,9 @@ RouteUI::RouteUI (ARDOUR::Session* sess)
 	, solo_menu(0)
 	, sends_menu(0)
 	, playlist_action_menu (0)
+	, _comment_window(0)
 	, _playlist_selector(0)
 	, _record_menu(0)
-	, _comment_window(0)
 	, _comment_area(0)
 	, _invert_menu(0)
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.h b/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.h
index 6c738117aa..4f93829f4e 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.h
@@ -268,6 +268,8 @@ protected:
 	ARDOUR::SoloMuteRelease* _solo_release;
 	ARDOUR::SoloMuteRelease* _mute_release;
 
+	ArdourWindow* _comment_window;
+
 private:
 	void invert_menu_toggled (uint32_t);
 	bool invert_press (GdkEventButton*);
@@ -322,7 +324,6 @@ private:
 	PlaylistSelector*  _playlist_selector;
 
 	Gtk::Menu*     _record_menu;
-	ArdourWindow*  _comment_window;
 	Gtk::TextView* _comment_area;
 
 	Gtk::CheckMenuItem* _step_edit_item;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/session_option_editor.cc b/gtk2_ardour/session_option_editor.cc
index 42dcb88398..416a113096 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/session_option_editor.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/session_option_editor.cc
@@ -436,6 +436,15 @@ SessionOptionEditor::SessionOptionEditor (Session* s)
 				sigc::mem_fun (*_session_config, &SessionConfiguration::set_count_in)
 				));
 
+	add_option (_("Misc"), new OptionEditorHeading (_("Project Banner")));
+
+	add_option (_("Misc"), new BoolOption (
+				"show-master-bus-comment-on-load",
+				_("Show master bus comment window on session load (once)"),
+				sigc::mem_fun (*_session_config, &SessionConfiguration::get_show_master_bus_comment_on_load),
+				sigc::mem_fun (*_session_config, &SessionConfiguration::set_show_master_bus_comment_on_load)
+				));
+
 	add_option (_("Misc"), new OptionEditorHeading (_("Defaults")));
 
 	Gtk::Button* btn = Gtk::manage (new Gtk::Button (_("Use these settings as defaults")));
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/session_configuration_vars.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/session_configuration_vars.h
index f28dbb776e..720c3497cf 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/session_configuration_vars.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/session_configuration_vars.h
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_monitor_on_meterbridge, "show-monitor-on-meterbridge
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_name_on_meterbridge, "show-name-on-meterbridge", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_fader_on_meterbridge, "show-fader-on-meterbridge", false)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (uint32_t, meterbridge_label_height,  "meterbridge-label-height", 0)
+CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_master_bus_comment_on_load, "show-master-bus-comment-on-load", false)
 
 /* If the user changes the session default_time_domain, we also stash that in rc_config as a global preference,
      where it is used to initialize the session timebase menu during new session creation