diff --git a/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.cpp b/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.cpp
index 6b9f7e0ab..f5b07bbaf 100644
--- a/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@
 BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(PrefsDialog, wxDialog)
    EVT_BUTTON(wxID_OK, PrefsDialog::OnOK)
    EVT_BUTTON(wxID_CANCEL, PrefsDialog::OnCancel)
+   EVT_BUTTON(wxID_APPLY, PrefsDialog::OnApply)
    EVT_TREE_KEY_DOWN(wxID_ANY, PrefsDialog::OnTreeKeyDown) // Handles key events when tree has focus
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
@@ -108,6 +109,16 @@ int wxTreebookExt::SetSelection(size_t n)
    wxString Temp = wxString(mTitlePrefix) + GetPageText( n );
    ((wxDialog*)GetParent())->SetTitle( Temp );
    ((wxDialog*)GetParent())->SetName( Temp );
+
+   PrefsPanel *const panel = static_cast<PrefsPanel *>(GetPage(n));
+   const bool showApply = panel->ShowsApplyButton();
+   wxWindow *const applyButton = wxWindow::FindWindowById(wxID_APPLY, GetParent());
+   if (applyButton) { // might still be NULL during population
+      const bool changed = applyButton->Show(showApply);
+      if (changed)
+         GetParent()->Layout();
+   }
+
    return i;
 }
 
@@ -255,7 +266,13 @@ PrefsDialog::PrefsDialog
    }
    S.EndVerticalLay();
 
-   S.AddStandardButtons(eOkButton | eCancelButton);
+   S.AddStandardButtons(eOkButton | eCancelButton | eApplyButton);
+
+   if (mUniquePage && !mUniquePage->ShowsApplyButton()) {
+      wxWindow *const applyButton =
+         wxWindow::FindWindowById(wxID_APPLY, GetParent());
+      applyButton->Show(false);
+   }
 
 #if defined(__WXGTK__)
    if (mCategories)
@@ -343,6 +360,14 @@ void PrefsDialog::OnCancel(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
    EndModal(false);
 }
 
+void PrefsDialog::OnApply(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
+{
+   if (mCategories)
+      static_cast<PrefsPanel*>(mCategories->GetCurrentPage())->Apply();
+   else
+      mUniquePage->Apply();
+}
+
 void PrefsDialog::OnTreeKeyDown(wxTreeEvent & event)
 {
    if(event.GetKeyCode() == WXK_RETURN)
@@ -479,3 +504,16 @@ void PrefsDialog::RecordExpansionState()
    else
       mFactories[0].expanded = true;
 }
+
+PrefsPanel::~PrefsPanel()
+{
+}
+
+void PrefsPanel::Cancel()
+{
+}
+
+bool PrefsPanel::ShowsApplyButton()
+{
+   return false;
+}
diff --git a/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.h b/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.h
index 981128a95..723c67805 100644
--- a/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.h
+++ b/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.h
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ class PrefsDialog:public wxDialog
    void OnCategoryChange(wxCommandEvent & e);
    void OnOK(wxCommandEvent & e);
    void OnCancel(wxCommandEvent & e);
+   void OnApply(wxCommandEvent & e);
    void OnTreeKeyDown(wxTreeEvent & e); // Used to dismiss the dialog when enter is pressed with focus on tree
 
    void SelectPageByName(wxString pageName);
diff --git a/src/prefs/PrefsPanel.h b/src/prefs/PrefsPanel.h
index 2af21079a..c6cd0688d 100644
--- a/src/prefs/PrefsPanel.h
+++ b/src/prefs/PrefsPanel.h
@@ -50,15 +50,15 @@ class PrefsPanel:public wxPanel
       SetName(title);      // Provide audible label
    }
 
-   virtual ~PrefsPanel()
-   {
-   }
+   virtual ~PrefsPanel();
 
    virtual bool Apply() = 0;
 
-   virtual void Cancel()
-   {
-   }
+   // If it returns True, the Apply button is added below the panel
+   // Default returns false
+   virtual bool ShowsApplyButton();
+
+   virtual void Cancel();
 };
 
 class PrefsPanelFactory
diff --git a/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.cpp
index f60f42d1c..7636dad2f 100644
--- a/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ enum {
    ID_SPECTRAL_SELECTION,
 #endif
    ID_DEFAULTS,
-   ID_APPLY,
 };
 
 void SpectrumPrefs::Populate(int windowSize)
@@ -289,12 +288,6 @@ void SpectrumPrefs::PopulateOrExchange(ShuttleGui & S)
    S.EndStatic();
 #endif
 
-   S.StartMultiColumn(2, wxALIGN_RIGHT);
-   {
-      S.Id(ID_APPLY).AddButton(_("Appl&y"));
-   }
-   S.EndMultiColumn();
-
    EnableDisableSTFTOnlyControls();
 
    mPopulating = false;
@@ -408,6 +401,17 @@ bool SpectrumPrefs::Apply()
          partner->SetDisplay(WaveTrack::Spectrum);
    }
 
+   if (isOpenPage) {
+      TrackPanel *const tp = ::GetActiveProject()->GetTrackPanel();
+      tp->UpdateVRulers();
+      tp->Refresh(false);
+   }
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+bool SpectrumPrefs::ShowsApplyButton()
+{
    return true;
 }
 
@@ -468,16 +472,6 @@ void SpectrumPrefs::EnableDisableSTFTOnlyControls()
 #endif
 }
 
-void SpectrumPrefs::OnApply(wxCommandEvent &)
-{
-   if (Validate()) {
-      Apply();
-      TrackPanel *const tp = ::GetActiveProject()->GetTrackPanel();
-      tp->UpdateVRulers();
-      tp->Refresh(false);
-   }
-}
-
 BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(SpectrumPrefs, PrefsPanel)
    EVT_CHOICE(ID_WINDOW_SIZE, SpectrumPrefs::OnWindowSize)
    EVT_CHECKBOX(ID_DEFAULTS, SpectrumPrefs::OnDefaults)
@@ -495,8 +489,6 @@ BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(SpectrumPrefs, PrefsPanel)
    EVT_CHECKBOX(ID_GRAYSCALE, SpectrumPrefs::OnControl)
    EVT_CHECKBOX(ID_SPECTRAL_SELECTION, SpectrumPrefs::OnControl)
 
-   EVT_BUTTON(ID_APPLY, SpectrumPrefs::OnApply)
-
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
 SpectrumPrefsFactory::SpectrumPrefsFactory(WaveTrack *wt)
diff --git a/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.h b/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.h
index 84feb2869..cceef7955 100644
--- a/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.h
+++ b/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class SpectrumPrefs:public PrefsPanel
    SpectrumPrefs(wxWindow * parent, WaveTrack *wt);
    virtual ~SpectrumPrefs();
    virtual bool Apply();
+   virtual bool ShowsApplyButton();
    virtual bool Validate();
 
  private:
@@ -55,7 +56,6 @@ class SpectrumPrefs:public PrefsPanel
    void OnWindowSize(wxCommandEvent &event);
    void OnDefaults(wxCommandEvent&);
    void OnAlgorithm(wxCommandEvent &);
-   void OnApply(wxCommandEvent &);
    DECLARE_EVENT_TABLE()
 
    void EnableDisableSTFTOnlyControls();
diff --git a/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp
index da9d24975..cb3e5b2cd 100644
--- a/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ WaveformPrefs::~WaveformPrefs()
 
 enum {
    ID_DEFAULTS = 10001,
-   ID_APPLY,
 
    ID_SCALE,
    ID_RANGE,
@@ -112,12 +111,6 @@ void WaveformPrefs::PopulateOrExchange(ShuttleGui & S)
    S.EndStatic();
    */
 
-   S.StartMultiColumn(2, wxALIGN_RIGHT);
-   {
-      S.Id(ID_APPLY).AddButton(_("Appl&y"));
-   }
-   S.EndMultiColumn();
-
    EnableDisableRange();
 
    mPopulating = false;
@@ -184,6 +177,17 @@ bool WaveformPrefs::Apply()
          partner->SetDisplay(WaveTrack::Waveform);
    }
 
+   if (isOpenPage) {
+      TrackPanel *const tp = ::GetActiveProject()->GetTrackPanel();
+      tp->UpdateVRulers();
+      tp->Refresh(false);
+   }
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+bool WaveformPrefs::ShowsApplyButton()
+{
    return true;
 }
 
@@ -219,16 +223,6 @@ void WaveformPrefs::OnDefaults(wxCommandEvent &)
    }
 }
 
-void WaveformPrefs::OnApply(wxCommandEvent &)
-{
-   if (Validate()) {
-      Apply();
-      TrackPanel *const tp = ::GetActiveProject()->GetTrackPanel();
-      tp->UpdateVRulers();
-      tp->Refresh(false);
-   }
-}
-
 void WaveformPrefs::EnableDisableRange()
 {
    mRangeChoice->Enable
@@ -241,7 +235,6 @@ EVT_CHOICE(ID_SCALE, WaveformPrefs::OnScale)
 EVT_CHOICE(ID_RANGE, WaveformPrefs::OnControl)
 
 EVT_CHECKBOX(ID_DEFAULTS, WaveformPrefs::OnDefaults)
-EVT_BUTTON(ID_APPLY, WaveformPrefs::OnApply)
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
 WaveformPrefsFactory::WaveformPrefsFactory(WaveTrack *wt)
diff --git a/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.h b/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.h
index 23f0d826f..7145172d6 100644
--- a/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.h
+++ b/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ public:
    WaveformPrefs(wxWindow * parent, WaveTrack *wt);
    virtual ~WaveformPrefs();
    virtual bool Apply();
+   virtual bool ShowsApplyButton();
    virtual bool Validate();
 
 private:
@@ -35,7 +36,6 @@ private:
    void OnControl(wxCommandEvent&);
    void OnScale(wxCommandEvent&);
    void OnDefaults(wxCommandEvent&);
-   void OnApply(wxCommandEvent &);
    DECLARE_EVENT_TABLE()
 
    void EnableDisableRange();