diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/tracks_control_panel.logic.cc b/gtk2_ardour/tracks_control_panel.logic.cc
index 081c6dcde3..162d7c8323 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/tracks_control_panel.logic.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/tracks_control_panel.logic.cc
@@ -1509,6 +1509,28 @@ TracksControlPanel::on_a_settings_tab_button_clicked (WavesButton* clicked_butto
 	_general_settings_tab_button.set_active(visible);
 }
 
+void
+TracksControlPanel::show_and_open_tab (int tab_id)
+{
+    show ();
+    
+    bool visible = (tab_id == MIDISystemSettingsTab);
+	_midi_settings_tab.set_visible (visible);
+	_midi_settings_tab_button.set_active(visible);
+    
+	visible = (tab_id == SessionSettingsTab);
+	_session_settings_tab.set_visible (visible);;
+	_session_settings_tab_button.set_active(visible);
+    
+	visible = (tab_id == AudioSystemSettingsTab);
+	_audio_settings_tab.set_visible (visible);
+	_audio_settings_tab_button.set_active(visible);
+    
+	visible = (tab_id == PreferencesTab);
+	_general_settings_tab.set_visible (visible);
+	_general_settings_tab_button.set_active(visible);
+}
+
 void
 TracksControlPanel::on_device_error ()
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/tracks_control_panel.logic.h b/gtk2_ardour/tracks_control_panel.logic.h
index e06766dabf..2288520d98 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/tracks_control_panel.logic.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/tracks_control_panel.logic.h
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@
 // class TracksControlPanel : public WavesDialog {
   public:
     void refresh_session_settings_info ();
+    enum {
+        AudioSystemSettingsTab,
+        MIDISystemSettingsTab,
+        SessionSettingsTab,
+        PreferencesTab
+    };
+    void show_and_open_tab (int);
 
   private: