diff --git a/src/ViewManager.cpp b/src/ViewManager.cpp
index ab169828b..7756a92f9 100644
--- a/src/ViewManager.cpp
+++ b/src/ViewManager.cpp
@@ -1070,6 +1070,10 @@ int ViewManager::newSession(QString profile, QString directory)
 
 QStringList ViewManager::profileList()
 {
+    // ensure all profiles are usable.
+    // FIXME: this explict calling smells bad.
+    SessionManager::instance()->loadAllProfiles();
+
     QList<Profile::Ptr> profilelist = SessionManager::instance()->loadedProfiles();
     QList<Profile::Ptr>::iterator i = profilelist.begin();
     QStringList list;