diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/video_timeline.cc b/gtk2_ardour/video_timeline.cc
index 0e58534772..eed09fdb23 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/video_timeline.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/video_timeline.cc
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ VideoTimeLine::set_session (ARDOUR::Session *s)
 	SessionHandlePtr::set_session (s);
 	if (!_session) { return ; }
 
-	_session->SaveSession.connect_same_thread (sessionsave, boost::bind (&VideoTimeLine::save_session, this));
+	_session->SessionSaveUnderway.connect_same_thread (sessionsave, boost::bind (&VideoTimeLine::save_session, this));
 	LocaleGuard lg (X_("C"));
 
 	XMLNode* node = _session->extra_xml (X_("Videotimeline"));
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/session.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/session.h
index 895bbd6f17..d1b64f2e5c 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/session.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/session.h
@@ -408,7 +408,21 @@ class LIBARDOUR_API Session : public PBD::StatefulDestructible, public PBD::Scop
 
 	PBD::Signal1<void,std::string> StateSaved;
 	PBD::Signal0<void> StateReady;
-	PBD::Signal0<void> SaveSession;
+
+	/* emitted when session needs to be saved due to some internal
+	 * event or condition (i.e. not in response to a user request).
+	 *
+	 * Only one object should
+	 * connect to this signal and take responsibility.
+	 *
+	 * Argument is the snapshot name to use when saving.
+	 */
+	PBD::Signal1<void,std::string> SaveSessionRequested; 
+
+	/* emitted during a session save to allow other entities to add state, via
+	 * extra XML, to the session state 
+	 */
+	PBD::Signal0<void> SessionSaveUnderway;
 
 	std::vector<std::string> possible_states() const;
 	static std::vector<std::string> possible_states (std::string path);
diff --git a/libs/ardour/session_state.cc b/libs/ardour/session_state.cc
index 29825b5505..c626e792ea 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/session_state.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/session_state.cc
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ Session::save_state (string snapshot_name, bool pending, bool switch_to_snapshot
 		}
 	}
 
-	SaveSession (); /* EMIT SIGNAL */
+	SessionSaveUnderway (); /* EMIT SIGNAL */
 
 	tree.set_root (&get_state());