diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc
index 719b41e6f3..e54ccfd977 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc
@@ -1452,9 +1452,14 @@ RouteUI::set_color_from_route ()
 void
 RouteUI::remove_this_route (bool apply_to_selection)
 {
+    if (!_session) {
+        return;
+    }
+    
+    boost::shared_ptr<RouteList> routes_to_remove(new RouteList);
     if (apply_to_selection) {      
         TrackSelection& track_selection =  ARDOUR_UI::instance()->the_editor().get_selection().tracks;
-
+        
         for (list<TimeAxisView*>::iterator i = track_selection.begin(); i != track_selection.end(); ++i) {
             RouteUI* t = dynamic_cast<RouteUI*> (*i);
             if (t) {
@@ -1465,7 +1470,7 @@ RouteUI::remove_this_route (bool apply_to_selection)
                 if( audio_track && audio_track->is_master_track() )
                     continue;
                 
-                Glib::signal_idle().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::ptr_fun (&RouteUI::idle_remove_this_route), t));
+                routes_to_remove->push_back(t->route() );
             }
         }
 	} else {
@@ -1476,8 +1481,10 @@ RouteUI::remove_this_route (bool apply_to_selection)
         if( audio_track && audio_track->is_master_track() )
             return;
 		
-        Glib::signal_idle().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::ptr_fun (&RouteUI::idle_remove_this_route), this));
+        routes_to_remove->push_back(this->route() );
 	}
+    
+    Glib::signal_idle().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::ptr_fun (&RouteUI::idle_remove_routes), ARDOUR_UI::instance()->the_session(), routes_to_remove) );
 }
 
 gint
@@ -1487,6 +1494,13 @@ RouteUI::idle_remove_this_route (RouteUI *rui)
 	return false;
 }
 
+gint
+RouteUI::idle_remove_routes (Session* sess, boost::shared_ptr<RouteList>& rlist)
+{
+    sess->remove_routes (rlist);
+    return false;
+}
+
 /** @return true if this name should be used for the route, otherwise false */
 bool
 RouteUI::verify_new_route_name (const std::string& name)
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.h b/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.h
index 3ed7cdaacc..6f629c969c 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.h
@@ -214,6 +214,7 @@ class RouteUI : public Gtk::EventBox, public WavesUI, public virtual AxisView
 
 	void remove_this_route (bool apply_to_selection = false);
 	static gint idle_remove_this_route (RouteUI *);
+    static gint idle_remove_routes (ARDOUR::Session*, boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::RouteList> &);
 
 	void route_rename();
 
diff --git a/libs/ardour/session.cc b/libs/ardour/session.cc
index d66250ebb3..24fc447267 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/session.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/session.cc
@@ -3137,22 +3137,6 @@ Session::remove_routes (boost::shared_ptr<RouteList> routes_to_remove)
                     _step_editors--;
                 }
             }
-            
-            /* try to cause everyone to drop their references
-             * and unregister ports from the backend
-             */
-            for (size_t i = 0; i < (*iter)->input()->ports().num_ports(); ++i) {
-                _engine.unregister_port((*iter)->input()->ports().port(i));
-                PortEngine::PortHandle handle = (*iter)->input()->ports().port(i)->port_handle();
-                _engine.current_backend()->unregister_port(handle);
-            }
-            
-            for (size_t i = 0; i < (*iter)->output()->ports().num_ports(); ++i) {
-                _engine.unregister_port((*iter)->output()->ports().port(i));
-                PortEngine::PortHandle handle = (*iter)->output()->ports().port(i)->port_handle();
-                _engine.current_backend()->unregister_port(handle);
-            }
-            (*iter)->drop_references ();
 
         }
     
@@ -3182,6 +3166,25 @@ Session::remove_routes (boost::shared_ptr<RouteList> routes_to_remove)
     
 	routes.flush ();
     
+    /* try to cause everyone to drop their references
+     * and unregister ports from the backend
+     */
+    for (RouteList::iterator iter = routes_to_remove->begin(); iter != routes_to_remove->end(); ++iter) {
+        
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < (*iter)->input()->ports().num_ports(); ++i) {
+            _engine.unregister_port((*iter)->input()->ports().port(i));
+            PortEngine::PortHandle handle = (*iter)->input()->ports().port(i)->port_handle();
+            _engine.current_backend()->unregister_port(handle);
+        }
+        
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < (*iter)->output()->ports().num_ports(); ++i) {
+            _engine.unregister_port((*iter)->output()->ports().port(i));
+            PortEngine::PortHandle handle = (*iter)->output()->ports().port(i)->port_handle();
+            _engine.current_backend()->unregister_port(handle);
+        }
+        (*iter)->drop_references ();
+    }
+    
 	Route::RemoteControlIDChange(); /* EMIT SIGNAL */
     
 	/* save the new state of the world */