diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/waves_dropdown.cc b/gtk2_ardour/waves_dropdown.cc
index a36d9d0c39..fb547dc653 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/waves_dropdown.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/waves_dropdown.cc
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ WavesDropdown::WavesDropdown (const std::string& title)
 {
 	signal_button_press_event().connect (sigc::mem_fun(*this, &WavesDropdown::on_mouse_pressed));
 	_menu.signal_hide ().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &CairoWidget::set_active), false));
-	_menu.signal_show ().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &CairoWidget::set_active), true));
 }
 
 WavesDropdown::~WavesDropdown ()
@@ -35,6 +34,7 @@ bool
 WavesDropdown::on_mouse_pressed (GdkEventButton*)
 {
 	_menu.popup (sigc::mem_fun(this, &WavesDropdown::_on_popup_menu_position), 1, gtk_get_current_event_time());
+	set_active (true);
 	return true;
 }