diff --git a/src/tracks/InstrumentTrack.cpp b/src/tracks/InstrumentTrack.cpp
index e7a58834a..b7412f19f 100644
--- a/src/tracks/InstrumentTrack.cpp
+++ b/src/tracks/InstrumentTrack.cpp
@@ -767,6 +767,22 @@ void InstrumentTrack::loadTrackSpecificSettings( const QDomElement & thisElement
 
 				emit instrumentChanged();
 			}
+			// compat code - if node-name doesn't match any known
+			// one, we assume that it is an instrument-plugin
+			// which we'll try to load
+			else if( AutomationPattern::classNodeName() != node.nodeName() &&
+					ControllerConnection::classNodeName() != node.nodeName() &&
+					!node.toElement().hasAttribute( "id" ) )
+			{
+				delete m_instrument;
+				m_instrument = NULL;
+				m_instrument = Instrument::instantiate( node.nodeName(), this );
+				if( m_instrument->nodeName() == node.nodeName() )
+				{
+					m_instrument->restoreState( node.toElement() );
+				}
+				emit instrumentChanged();
+			}
 		}
 		node = node.nextSibling();
 	}