diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/splash.cc b/gtk2_ardour/splash.cc
index ee0566a910..66412d4881 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/splash.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/splash.cc
@@ -224,6 +224,8 @@ Splash::message (const string& msg)
 	str += Glib::Markup::escape_text (msg);
 	str += "</b>";
 
+        show ();
+
 	layout->set_markup (str);
 	Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Window> win = darea.get_window();
 	
@@ -235,11 +237,6 @@ Splash::message (const string& msg)
 		} else {
 			darea.queue_draw ();
 		}
-
-                while (!expose_done) {
-                        if(gtk_main_iteration ()) return; // quit was called
-                }
-		gdk_display_flush (gdk_display_get_default());
 	}
 }