diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/segment_descriptor.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/segment_descriptor.h
index b1058a775b..26471a3989 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/segment_descriptor.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/segment_descriptor.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public:
 
 	/* Replicate the API of PBD::Stateful without the overhead */
 
-	XMLNode& get_state (void);
+	XMLNode& get_state (void) const;
 	int set_state (const XMLNode&, int version);
 
 private:
diff --git a/libs/ardour/segment_descriptor.cc b/libs/ardour/segment_descriptor.cc
index 0ffb6e9e2e..80baa90f02 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/segment_descriptor.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/segment_descriptor.cc
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ SegmentDescriptor::set_meter (Meter const & m)
 }
 
 XMLNode&
-SegmentDescriptor::get_state (void)
+SegmentDescriptor::get_state (void) const
 {
 	XMLNode* root = new XMLNode (X_("SegmentDescriptor"));