diff --git a/mixer/src/JACK_Module.C b/mixer/src/JACK_Module.C
index 65dbf84..3f5dba3 100644
--- a/mixer/src/JACK_Module.C
+++ b/mixer/src/JACK_Module.C
@@ -301,9 +301,9 @@ JACK_Module::update_connection_status ( void )
         return;
     }
 
-    /* causes a lot of unnecessary redraws to do this when loading */
-    if ( Project::is_opening() )
-	return;
+    /* /\* causes a lot of unnecessary redraws to do this when loading *\/ */
+    /* if ( Project::is_opening_closing() ) */
+    /* 	return; */
 
     /* FIXME: only do something if port list actually changed! */
     std::list<std::string> output_names = get_connections_for_ports( aux_audio_output );
diff --git a/mixer/src/Mixer.C b/mixer/src/Mixer.C
index b01b5fb..08361c7 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Mixer.C
+++ b/mixer/src/Mixer.C
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ int
 Mixer::handle ( int m )
 {
     /* if user presses certain keys when project is loading it can cause a crash. Don't respond to input. */
-    if ( Project::is_opening() )
+    if ( Project::is_opening_closing() )
 	return 0;
     
     if ( Fl_Group::handle( m ) )
@@ -1179,7 +1179,7 @@ Mixer::get_auto_connect_targets ( void )
 void
 Mixer::auto_connect ( void )
 {
-    if ( Project::is_opening() )
+    if ( Project::is_opening_closing() )
         /* it's more efficient to do this once at the end rather than as we go. */
         return;
     
@@ -1207,7 +1207,7 @@ Mixer::auto_connect ( void )
 void
 Mixer::maybe_auto_connect_output ( Module::Port *p )
 {
-    if ( Project::is_opening() )
+    if ( Project::is_opening_closing() )
         /* it's more efficient to do this once at the end rather than as we go. */
         return;
 
@@ -1223,7 +1223,7 @@ Mixer::maybe_auto_connect_output ( Module::Port *p )
                 return;
     }
 
-    /* now do that catch-alls, first one wins! */
+    /* now do the catch-alls, first one wins! */
     for ( int i = 0; i < mixer_strips->children(); i++ )
     {
         Mixer_Strip *s = ((Mixer_Strip*)mixer_strips->child(i));
diff --git a/mixer/src/Mixer_Strip.C b/mixer/src/Mixer_Strip.C
index ade7c33..371672f 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Mixer_Strip.C
+++ b/mixer/src/Mixer_Strip.C
@@ -1036,18 +1036,17 @@ Mixer_Strip::maybe_auto_connect_output ( Module::Port *p )
 
     if ( ! _auto_input )
     {
-        /* break any previous connection between this port and this module */
+	/* not accepting auto inputs, so ensure all previous auto
+	   input connection are broken and ignore this port. */
         p->disconnect_from_strip(this);
+	return false;
     }
     
-    if ( _auto_input && matches_pattern( _auto_input, p ) )
+    if ( _auto_input &&
+	 matches_pattern( _auto_input, p ) )
     {
-	/* FIXME: would be faster if we avoided breaking and remaking
-	 * the same connections, while still breaking connections that
-	 * will not be remade */
+	/* got a match, add this to list of accepted connections */
 	
-        /* break any prior auto-connection */
-        p->disconnect();
 
 	
         // FIXME: Find a better way to get the port index.
diff --git a/mixer/src/Module.C b/mixer/src/Module.C
index 115db7b..dfb4381 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Module.C
+++ b/mixer/src/Module.C
@@ -1314,10 +1314,10 @@ Module::auto_disconnect_outputs ( void )
     {
         Module::Port *p = &aux_audio_output[i];
 
-        if ( p->connected_port() )
+        while ( p->connected() )
         {
-            p->connected_port()->jack_port()->disconnect( p->jack_port()->jack_name() );
-            p->disconnect();
+	    p->connected_port()->jack_port()->disconnect( p->jack_port()->jack_name() );
+            p->disconnect(p->connected_port());
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/mixer/src/Project.C b/mixer/src/Project.C
index 777704c..a629a31 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Project.C
+++ b/mixer/src/Project.C
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ char Project::_name[256];
 char Project::_created_on[40];
 char Project::_path[512];
 bool Project::_is_open = false;
-bool Project::_is_opening = false;
+bool Project::_is_opening_closing = false;
 int Project::_lockfd = 0;
 
 
@@ -193,6 +193,8 @@ Project::close ( void )
     if ( ! save() )
         return false;
 
+    Project::_is_opening_closing = true;
+
     Loggable::close();
 /* //    write_info(); */
 
@@ -203,6 +205,8 @@ Project::close ( void )
 
     release_lock( &_lockfd, ".lock" );
 
+    Project::_is_opening_closing = false;
+    
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -262,7 +266,7 @@ Project::open ( const char *name )
     if ( version != PROJECT_VERSION )
         return E_VERSION;
 
-    _is_opening = true;
+    _is_opening_closing = true;
     
     if ( ! Loggable::replay( "snapshot" ) )
         return E_INVALID;
@@ -282,7 +286,7 @@ Project::open ( const char *name )
 
     _is_open = true;
 
-    _is_opening = false;
+    _is_opening_closing = false;
 //    tle->load_timeline_settings();
 
 //    timeline->zoom_fit();
diff --git a/mixer/src/Project.H b/mixer/src/Project.H
index 42328dc..7f02752 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Project.H
+++ b/mixer/src/Project.H
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class Project
 
     static int _lockfd;
     static bool _is_open;
-    static bool _is_opening;
+    static bool _is_opening_closing;
     static char _name[256];
     static char _path[512];
     static char _created_on[40];
@@ -62,5 +62,5 @@ public:
     
     static const char *path ( void ) { return _path; }
     static const char *created_on ( void ) { return _created_on; }
-    static const bool is_opening ( void ) { return _is_opening; }
+    static const bool is_opening_closing ( void ) { return _is_opening_closing; }
 };