diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_region_view.cc b/gtk2_ardour/midi_region_view.cc
index 64f76d435c..fb97bfc6a4 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_region_view.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_region_view.cc
@@ -260,7 +260,9 @@ MidiRegionView::canvas_event(GdkEvent* ev)
 		group->ungrab(ev->button.time);
 		switch (_state) {
 		case Pressed: // Clicked
-			if (ev->button.button == 3) {
+			if (ev->button.button == 1) {
+				clear_selection();
+			} else if (ev->button.button == 3) {
 				nframes_t event_frame = midi_view()->editor.pixel_to_frame(event_x);
 				midi_view()->editor.snap_to(event_frame);
 				event_x = midi_view()->editor.frame_to_pixel(event_frame);
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_region_view.h b/gtk2_ardour/midi_region_view.h
index 6bf6057342..416417d8fb 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_region_view.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_region_view.h
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ class MidiRegionView : public RegionView
 	bool note_canvas_event(GdkEvent* ev);
 	
 	void clear_selection_except(ArdourCanvas::CanvasMidiEvent* ev);
+	void clear_selection() { clear_selection_except(NULL); }
 
 	double _default_note_length;