diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc
index b1176d33e3..b9906eda5b 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc
@@ -2532,6 +2532,18 @@ ControlPointDrag::finished (GdkEvent* event, bool movement_occurred)
 	_point->line().end_drag (_point);
 }
 
+bool
+ControlPointDrag::active (Editing::MouseMode m)
+{
+	if (m == Editing::MouseGain) {
+		/* always active in mouse gain */
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	/* otherwise active if the point is on an automation line (ie not if its on a region gain line) */
+	return dynamic_cast<AutomationLine*> (&(_point->line())) != 0;
+}
+
 LineDrag::LineDrag (Editor* e, ArdourCanvas::Item* i)
 	: Drag (e, i),
 	  _line (0),
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.h b/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.h
index b01ba78709..97e503f0d6 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.h
@@ -404,9 +404,7 @@ public:
 	void motion (GdkEvent *, bool);
 	void finished (GdkEvent *, bool);
 
-	bool active (Editing::MouseMode m) {
-		return (m == Editing::MouseGain);
-	}
+	bool active (Editing::MouseMode m);
 
 private: