diff --git a/libs/ardour/session_state.cc b/libs/ardour/session_state.cc
index 239333c052..b1eef7331d 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/session_state.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/session_state.cc
@@ -554,7 +554,11 @@ Session::create (const string& session_template, BusProfile* bus_profile)
 
 	}
 
-	/* set initial start + end point */
+	/* set initial start + end point : 5 minutes long. Remember that this is a brand new session. Sessions
+           loaded from saved state will get this range from the saved state.
+         */
+
+        set_session_range_location (0, 5 * 60 * _engine.sample_rate());
 
 	_state_of_the_state = Clean;