diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ui_config.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ui_config.cc
index d1395e671e..027d119c30 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ui_config.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ui_config.cc
@@ -537,6 +537,16 @@ UIConfiguration::set_variables (const XMLNode& node)
 #undef  CANVAS_FONT_VARIABLE
 }
 
+ArdourCanvas::SVAModifier
+UIConfiguration::modifier (string const & name) const
+{
+	Modifiers::const_iterator m = modifiers.find (name);
+	if (m != modifiers.end()) {
+		return m->second;
+	}
+	return SVAModifier ();
+}
+
 ArdourCanvas::Color
 UIConfiguration::color (const std::string& name, bool* failed) const
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ui_config.h b/gtk2_ardour/ui_config.h
index 55e21045e7..d6f917da02 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ui_config.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ui_config.h
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class UIConfiguration : public PBD::Stateful
 
 	ArdourCanvas::Color color (const std::string&, bool* failed = 0) const;
 	ArdourCanvas::HSV  color_hsv (const std::string&) const;
-	ArdourCanvas::SVAModifier modifier (const std::string&);
+	ArdourCanvas::SVAModifier modifier (const std::string&) const;
 		
         sigc::signal<void,std::string> ParameterChanged;
 	void map_parameters (boost::function<void (std::string)>&);