diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc b/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc
index f273f73e2d..8b4d830a64 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc
@@ -173,9 +173,7 @@ RouteTimeAxisView::set_route (boost::shared_ptr<Route> rt)
 	if (is_track()) {
 
 		/* use icon */
-
-		rec_enable_button->remove ();
-
+		
 		switch (track()->mode()) {
 		case ARDOUR::Normal:
 		case ARDOUR::NonLayered:
@@ -185,7 +183,6 @@ RouteTimeAxisView::set_route (boost::shared_ptr<Route> rt)
 			rec_enable_button->set_image (::get_icon (X_("record_tape_red")));
 			break;
 		}
-		rec_enable_button->show_all ();
 
 		controls_table.attach (*rec_enable_button, 5, 6, 0, 1, Gtk::FILL|Gtk::EXPAND, Gtk::FILL|Gtk::EXPAND, 0, 0);
 
@@ -755,9 +752,11 @@ RouteTimeAxisView::set_track_mode (TrackMode mode, bool apply_to_selection)
 		case ARDOUR::NonLayered:
 		case ARDOUR::Normal:
 			rec_enable_button->set_image (::get_icon (X_("record_normal_red")));
+			rec_enable_button->set_text (string());
 			break;
 		case ARDOUR::Destructive:
 			rec_enable_button->set_image (::get_icon (X_("record_tape_red")));
+			rec_enable_button->set_text (string());
 			break;
 		}
 
@@ -2348,8 +2347,6 @@ RouteTimeAxisView::remove_underlay (StreamView* v)
 void
 RouteTimeAxisView::set_button_names ()
 {
-	rec_enable_button->set_text (_("r"));
-
         if (_route && _route->solo_safe()) {
 		solo_button->remove ();
 		if (solo_safe_pixbuf == 0) {