diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/session_dialog.logic.cc b/gtk2_ardour/session_dialog.logic.cc
index b5a1546733..ee2a5c7cea 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/session_dialog.logic.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/session_dialog.logic.cc
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ SessionDialog::redisplay_recent_sessions ()
 {
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < MAX_RECENT_SESSION_COUNT; i++) {
         _recent_session_button[i]->set_active_state (Gtkmm2ext::Off);
+        _recent_session_button[i]->set_sensitive (false);
 	}
 
 	std::vector<std::string> session_directories;