diff --git a/src/diskreader.cxx b/src/diskreader.cxx
index 9c53a99..cdd6dc0 100644
--- a/src/diskreader.cxx
+++ b/src/diskreader.cxx
@@ -80,9 +80,7 @@ int DiskReader::loadPreferences()
           LUPPP_NOTE("Loading controller %s", ctlr->valuestring);
           stringstream s;
           s << getenv("HOME") << "/.config/openAV/luppp/controllers/" << ctlr->valuestring;
-          GenericMIDI* c = new GenericMIDI( s.str().c_str() );
-          EventControllerInstance e(c);
-          writeToDspRingbuffer( &e );
+          gui->addMidiControllerToSetup( s.str() );
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/gui.cxx b/src/gui.cxx
index 18205ac..820c8ad 100644
--- a/src/gui.cxx
+++ b/src/gui.cxx
@@ -338,6 +338,8 @@ Gui::Gui(std::string argZero) :
 {
   LUPPP_NOTE( "%s", "Gui()" );
   
+  gui = this;
+  
   // setup callback to signalChecker()
   Fl::add_timeout( 0.1, (Fl_Timeout_Handler)&signalChecker, 0 );
   
@@ -466,6 +468,24 @@ Gui::Gui(std::string argZero) :
   }
 }
 
+void Gui::addMidiControllerToSetup(std::string c)
+{
+  controllerVector.push_back( c );
+}
+
+void Gui::setupMidiControllers()
+{
+  for(int i = 0; i < controllerVector.size(); i++)
+  {
+    GenericMIDI* c = new GenericMIDI( controllerVector.at(i).c_str() );
+    if ( c )
+    {
+      EventControllerInstance e(c);
+      writeToDspRingbuffer( &e );
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 void Gui::reset()
 {
   // signal to DSP to reset state
diff --git a/src/gui.hxx b/src/gui.hxx
index 9f5ee8c..daea0b5 100644
--- a/src/gui.hxx
+++ b/src/gui.hxx
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ class Gui
     /// resets the state to "new"
     void reset();
     
+    /// sets up MIDI controllers: must be done *after* backend is started
+    void addMidiControllerToSetup(std::string);
+    void setupMidiControllers();
+    
     GTrack* getTrack(int id);
     GMasterTrack* getMasterTrack(){return master;}
     
@@ -84,6 +88,8 @@ class Gui
     nsm_client_t* getNsm(){return nsm;}
   
   private:
+    vector<std::string> controllerVector;
+    
     Fl_Double_Window    window;
     
     Fl_Group* lupppGroup; 
diff --git a/src/jack.cxx b/src/jack.cxx
index 0a442d1..e11e964 100644
--- a/src/jack.cxx
+++ b/src/jack.cxx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
 #include "state/state.hxx"
 
+#include "gui.hxx"
 #include "logic.hxx"
 #include "config.hxx"
 #include "looper.hxx"
@@ -46,7 +47,8 @@ using namespace std;
 
 int AudioBuffer::privateID = 0;
 
-// static pointer from main.
+// static pointers from main
+extern Gui* gui;
 extern Jack* jack;
 
 void Jack::setup(std::string name)
@@ -226,13 +228,17 @@ Jack::Jack( std::string name ) :
   // Watch out for RT stuff, loading file, registering ports etc: before activate?!
   //Controller* m = new GenericMIDI("akai_apc.ctlr","apc");
   
-  Controller* gui = new LupppGUI();
-  controllerUpdater->registerController( gui );
+  Controller* g = new LupppGUI();
+  controllerUpdater->registerController( g );
   
-  if ( !gui )
+  if ( !g )
   {
     LUPPP_ERROR("%s","Error creating LupppGUI Controller instance");
   }
+  
+  // call into the GUI, telling it to register default controllers
+  gui->setupMidiControllers();
+  
 }
 
 Jack::~Jack()