diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.cc b/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.cc
index f743c022bb..4d5ce9a4cd 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.cc
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ AutomationLine::AutomationLine (const string&                   name,
 	:_name (name)
 	, _height (0)
 	, _line_color_name ("automation line")
+	, _insensitive_line_color (0x0)
 	, _view_index_offset (0)
 	, alist (al)
 	, _visible (Line)
@@ -147,11 +148,7 @@ AutomationLine::set_sensitive (bool yn)
 {
 	_sensitive = yn;
 
-	if (yn) {
-		set_line_color (_line_color_name);
-	} else {
-		set_line_color (UIConfiguration::instance().color ("nonexistent"));
-	}
+	set_line_color (_line_color_name, _line_color_mod);
 
 	for (auto & cp : control_points) {
 		if (yn) {
@@ -299,14 +296,15 @@ void
 AutomationLine::set_line_color (string const & color_name, string color_mod)
 {
 	_line_color_name = color_name;
+	_line_color_mod = color_mod;
 
 	if (_sensitive) {
 		line->set_outline_color (UIConfiguration::instance().color (color_name));
 	} else {
-		line->set_outline_color (UIConfiguration::instance().color (color_name + " insensitive"));
+		line->set_outline_color (_insensitive_line_color);
 	}
 
-	/* The fill color is used to shade the area under some
+	/* The fill color (and thus the color_mod) is used to shade the area under some
 	 * automation lines
 	 */
 
@@ -331,16 +329,9 @@ AutomationLine::set_colors ()
 }
 
 void
-AutomationLine::set_line_color (uint32_t color)
+AutomationLine::set_insensitive_line_color (uint32_t color)
 {
-	line->set_outline_color (color);
-	line->set_fill (false);
-
-	if (_control_points_inherit_color) {
-		for (auto & cp : control_points) {
-			cp->set_color ();
-		}
-	}
+	_insensitive_line_color = color;
 }
 
 uint32_t
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.h b/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.h
index 6f574e288c..ef863e1d28 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/automation_line.h
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ public:
 	guint32 height()  const { return _height; }
 
 	void set_line_color (std::string const & color, std::string color_mode = std::string());
-	void set_line_color (uint32_t color);
+	void set_insensitive_line_color (uint32_t color);
 	uint32_t get_line_color() const;
 	uint32_t get_line_fill_color() const;
 	uint32_t get_line_selected_color() const;
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ protected:
 	guint32        _height;
 	std::string    _line_color_name;
 	std::string    _line_color_mod;
+	uint32_t       _insensitive_line_color;
 	uint32_t       _view_index_offset;
 	std::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::AutomationList> alist;
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc
index 79f9a586a3..fbf2a31b0b 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc
@@ -280,6 +280,28 @@ MidiCueView::swap_automation_channel (int new_channel)
 	}
 }
 
+Gtkmm2ext::Color
+MidiCueView::line_color_for (Evoral::Parameter const & param)
+{
+	UIConfiguration& uic (UIConfiguration::instance());
+
+	switch (param.type()) {
+	case MidiCCAutomation:
+		switch (param.id()) {
+		case MIDI_CTL_MSB_EXPRESSION:
+			return uic.color ("pianoroll: insensitive expression line");
+		case MIDI_CTL_MSB_MODWHEEL:
+			return uic.color ("pianoroll: insensitive modulation line");
+		}
+		break;
+	case MidiPitchBenderAutomation:
+		return uic.color ("pianoroll: insensitive bender line");
+	case MidiChannelPressureAutomation:
+		return uic.color ("pianoroll: insensitive pressure line");
+	}
+
+	return 0xff0000ff;
+}
 void
 MidiCueView::update_automation_display (Evoral::Parameter const & param, SelectionOperation op)
 {
@@ -349,6 +371,7 @@ MidiCueView::update_automation_display (Evoral::Parameter const & param, Selecti
 			                                                   ac->alist(),
 			                                                   ac->desc()));
 			line->set_sensitive (false);
+			line->set_insensitive_line_color (line_color_for (param));
 
 			AutomationDisplayState cad (ac, line, false);
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.h b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.h
index 4af11ac0ce..b87d7fa73f 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.h
@@ -125,4 +125,5 @@ class MidiCueView : public MidiView
 	void unset_active_automation ();
 
 	bool midi_canvas_group_event (GdkEvent*);
+	Gtkmm2ext::Color line_color_for (Evoral::Parameter const &);
 };