diff --git a/libs/widgets/ardour_button.cc b/libs/widgets/ardour_button.cc
index 551bf5ac60..f147b05d08 100644
--- a/libs/widgets/ardour_button.cc
+++ b/libs/widgets/ardour_button.cc
@@ -1486,6 +1486,13 @@ ArdourButton::add_elements (Element e)
 	CairoWidget::set_dirty ();
 }
 
+void
+ArdourButton::remove_elements (Element e)
+{
+	_elements = (ArdourButton::Element) (_elements & ~e);
+	CairoWidget::set_dirty ();
+}
+
 void
 ArdourButton::set_icon (ArdourIcon::Icon i)
 {
diff --git a/libs/widgets/widgets/ardour_button.h b/libs/widgets/widgets/ardour_button.h
index 6ee0a65768..7b39f6c5bf 100644
--- a/libs/widgets/widgets/ardour_button.h
+++ b/libs/widgets/widgets/ardour_button.h
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ class LIBWIDGETS_API ArdourButton : public CairoWidget , public Gtkmm2ext::Activ
 	Element elements() const { return _elements; }
 	void set_elements (Element);
 	void add_elements (Element);
+	void remove_elements (Element);
 
 	ArdourIcon::Icon icon() const { return _icon; }
 	void set_icon (ArdourIcon::Icon);