diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/meterbridge.cc b/gtk2_ardour/meterbridge.cc
index 13be0cc2b2..94c7dc0210 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/meterbridge.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/meterbridge.cc
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ Meterbridge::Meterbridge ()
 	, VisibilityTracker (*((Gtk::Window*) this))
 	, _visible (false)
 	, _show_busses (false)
+    , _show_master (false)
 	, metrics_left (1, MeterPeak)
 	, metrics_right (2, MeterPeak)
 	, cur_max_width (-1)
@@ -659,7 +660,8 @@ Meterbridge::sync_order_keys ()
 			(*i).visible = false;
 		}
 		else if ((*i).s->route()->is_master()) {
-			if (_show_master) {
+			// never show master
+            if (false/*_show_master*/) {
 				(*i).s->show();
 				(*i).visible = true;
 				vis++;
@@ -672,7 +674,8 @@ Meterbridge::sync_order_keys ()
 				&& boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<MidiTrack>((*i).s->route()) == 0
 				) {
 			/* non-master bus */
-			if (_show_busses) {
+            // never show buses
+            if (false/*_show_busses*/) {
 				(*i).s->show();
 				(*i).visible = true;
 				vis++;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/session_configuration_vars.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/session_configuration_vars.h
index 6349692e77..4669ad522c 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/session_configuration_vars.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/session_configuration_vars.h
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, glue_new_regions_to_bars_and_beats, "glue-new-regions-to-
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, use_video_file_fps, "use-video-file-fps", false)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, videotimeline_pullup, "videotimeline-pullup", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_busses_on_meterbridge, "show-busses-on-meterbridge", false)
-CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_master_on_meterbridge, "show-master-on-meterbridge", true)
+CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_master_on_meterbridge, "show-master-on-meterbridge", false)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_midi_on_meterbridge, "show-midi-on-meterbridge", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_rec_on_meterbridge, "show-rec-on-meterbridge", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_mute_on_meterbridge, "show-mute-on-meterbridge", false)