diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
index 041300f517..278b9c30eb 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
@@ -1231,7 +1231,6 @@ ARDOUR_UI::engine_stopped ()
 	ActionManager::set_sensitive (ActionManager::jack_opposite_sensitive_actions, true);
 }
 
-
 void
 ARDOUR_UI::engine_running ()
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/io_selector.cc b/gtk2_ardour/io_selector.cc
index 866d1f7134..363f2aaaf5 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/io_selector.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/io_selector.cc
@@ -294,8 +294,6 @@ IOSelector::rescan ()
 
 	current_page = notebook.get_current_page ();
 
-	cerr << "clear notebook\n";
-
 	pages.clear ();
 
 	/* get relevant current JACK ports */
@@ -303,7 +301,6 @@ IOSelector::rescan ()
 	ports = session.engine().get_ports ("", JACK_DEFAULT_AUDIO_TYPE, for_input ? JackPortIsOutput : JackPortIsInput);
 
 	if (ports == 0) {
-		cerr << "no ports\n";
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -369,8 +366,6 @@ IOSelector::rescan ()
 		pages.push_back (TabElem (*client_box, *tab_label));
 	}
 
-	cerr << "notebook should have " << portmap.size() << " pages\n";
-
 	notebook.set_current_page (current_page);
 	page_selection_connection = notebook.signal_show().connect (bind (mem_fun (notebook, &Notebook::set_current_page), current_page));
 	selector_box.show_all ();
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
index dd60c51941..f79ac9bb93 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ MixerStrip::output_press (GdkEventButton *ev)
 		citems.push_back (SeparatorElem());
 		
 		_session.foreach_connection (this, &MixerStrip::add_connection_to_output_menu);
-		
+
 		output_menu.popup (1, ev->time);
 		break;
 		
@@ -556,13 +556,13 @@ MixerStrip::input_press (GdkEventButton *ev)
 	switch (ev->button) {
 
 	case 1:
-
 		citems.push_back (MenuElem (_("Edit"), mem_fun(*this, &MixerStrip::edit_input_configuration)));
 		citems.push_back (SeparatorElem());
 		citems.push_back (MenuElem (_("Disconnect"), mem_fun (*(static_cast<RouteUI*>(this)), &RouteUI::disconnect_input)));
 		citems.push_back (SeparatorElem());
 		
 		_session.foreach_connection (this, &MixerStrip::add_connection_to_input_menu);
+
 		input_menu.popup (1, ev->time);
 		break;
 		
@@ -1177,21 +1177,11 @@ MixerStrip::mix_group() const
 void
 MixerStrip::engine_stopped ()
 {
-        input_button.set_sensitive (false);
-	if (rec_enable_button) {
-		rec_enable_button->set_sensitive (false);
-	}
-	output_button.set_sensitive (false);
 }
 
 void
 MixerStrip::engine_running ()
 {
-        input_button.set_sensitive (true);
-	if (rec_enable_button) {
-		rec_enable_button->set_sensitive (true);
-	}
-	output_button.set_sensitive (true);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/redirect_box.cc b/gtk2_ardour/redirect_box.cc
index b7eb117703..d0aa7500e4 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/redirect_box.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/redirect_box.cc
@@ -1058,8 +1058,12 @@ RedirectBox::register_actions ()
 
 	/* new stuff */
 	ActionManager::register_action (popup_act_grp, X_("newplugin"), _("New Plugin ..."),  sigc::ptr_fun (RedirectBox::rb_choose_plugin));
-	ActionManager::register_action (popup_act_grp, X_("newinsert"), _("New Insert"),  sigc::ptr_fun (RedirectBox::rb_choose_insert));
-	ActionManager::register_action (popup_act_grp, X_("newsend"), _("New Send ..."),  sigc::ptr_fun (RedirectBox::rb_choose_send));
+
+	act = ActionManager::register_action (popup_act_grp, X_("newinsert"), _("New Insert"),  sigc::ptr_fun (RedirectBox::rb_choose_insert));
+	ActionManager::jack_sensitive_actions.push_back (act);
+	act = ActionManager::register_action (popup_act_grp, X_("newsend"), _("New Send ..."),  sigc::ptr_fun (RedirectBox::rb_choose_send));
+	ActionManager::jack_sensitive_actions.push_back (act);
+
 	ActionManager::register_action (popup_act_grp, X_("clear"), _("Clear"),  sigc::ptr_fun (RedirectBox::rb_clear));
 
 	/* standard editing stuff */
@@ -1086,6 +1090,8 @@ RedirectBox::register_actions ()
 	ActionManager::plugin_selection_sensitive_actions.push_back(act);
 
 	ActionManager::add_action_group (popup_act_grp);
+
+
 }
 
 void
@@ -1256,3 +1262,4 @@ RedirectBox::generate_redirect_title (boost::shared_ptr<PluginInsert> pi)
 
 	return string_compose(_("ardour: %1: %2 (by %3)"), _route->name(), pi->name(), maker);	
 }
+
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc
index 665f0f9288..ed42be2901 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_ui.cc
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@
 #include "gui_thread.h"
 
 #include <ardour/route.h>
+#include <ardour/session.h>
+#include <ardour/audioengine.h>
 #include <ardour/audio_track.h>
 #include <ardour/audio_diskstream.h>
 
@@ -281,6 +283,12 @@ RouteUI::solo_release(GdkEventButton* ev)
 bool
 RouteUI::rec_enable_press(GdkEventButton* ev)
 {
+	if (!_session.engine().connected()) {
+	        MessageDialog msg (_("Not connected to JACK - cannot engage record"));
+		msg.run ();
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	if (!ignore_toggle && is_track() && rec_enable_button) {
 
 		if (ev->button == 2 && Keyboard::modifier_state_equals (ev->state, Keyboard::Control)) {