Index: gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
===================================================================
--- gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc	(revision 2951)
+++ gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc	(working copy)
@@ -2411,6 +2411,8 @@
 
 	catch (AudioEngine::PortRegistrationFailure& err) {
 
+		hide_splash();
+
 		MessageDialog msg (err.what(),
 				   true,
 				   Gtk::MESSAGE_INFO,
@@ -2436,6 +2438,8 @@
 
 	catch (...) {
 
+		hide_splash();
+
 		MessageDialog msg (string_compose(_("Session \"%1 (snapshot %2)\" did not load successfully"), path, snap_name),
 				   true,
 				   Gtk::MESSAGE_INFO,