diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
index 3a82b457f4..4af3a47fa1 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
@@ -509,8 +509,6 @@ ARDOUR_UI::post_engine ()
 
 	_tooltips.enable();
 
-	ActionManager::load_menus (ARDOUR_COMMAND_LINE::menus_file);
-
 	if (setup_windows ()) {
 		throw failed_constructor ();
 	}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_dependents.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_dependents.cc
index fbfc8c7afd..bb0f375942 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_dependents.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_dependents.cc
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 
 #include "ardour/session.h"
 
+#include "actions.h"
 #include "ardour_ui.h"
 #include "public_editor.h"
 #include "mixer_ui.h"
@@ -59,6 +60,11 @@ ARDOUR_UI::we_have_dependents ()
 	editor->setup_tooltips ();
 	editor->UpdateAllTransportClocks.connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &ARDOUR_UI::update_transport_clocks));
 
+	/* all actions are defined */
+
+	ActionManager::enable_accelerators ();
+	ActionManager::load_menus (ARDOUR_COMMAND_LINE::menus_file);
+
 	editor->track_mixer_selection ();
 	mixer->track_editor_selection ();
 }