diff --git a/rtgui/dirbrowser.cc b/rtgui/dirbrowser.cc
index 914b74ef5..b79bb2c0f 100644
--- a/rtgui/dirbrowser.cc
+++ b/rtgui/dirbrowser.cc
@@ -347,9 +347,7 @@ void DirBrowser::row_activated (const Gtk::TreeModel::Path& path, Gtk::TreeViewC
     Glib::ustring dname = dirTreeModel->get_iter (path)->get_value (dtColumns.dirname);
 
     if (safe_file_test (dname, Glib::FILE_TEST_IS_DIR))
-        for (size_t i = 0; i < dllisteners.size(); i++) {
-            dllisteners[i]->dirSelected (dname);
-        }
+        dirSelectionSignal (dname, Glib::ustring());
 }
 
 Gtk::TreePath DirBrowser::expandToDir (const Glib::ustring& absDirPath)
@@ -439,9 +437,7 @@ void DirBrowser::open (const Glib::ustring& dirname, const Glib::ustring& fileNa
         absFilePath = Glib::build_filename (absDirPath, fileName);
     }
 
-    for (size_t i = 0; i < dllisteners.size(); i++) {
-        dllisteners[i]->dirSelected (absDirPath, absFilePath);
-    }
+    dirSelectionSignal (absDirPath, absFilePath);
 }
 
 void DirBrowser::file_changed (const Glib::RefPtr<Gio::File>& file, const Glib::RefPtr<Gio::File>& other_file, Gio::FileMonitorEvent event_type, const Gtk::TreeModel::iterator& iter, const Glib::ustring& dirName)
diff --git a/rtgui/dirbrowser.h b/rtgui/dirbrowser.h
index fcba64ce0..850a9fa78 100644
--- a/rtgui/dirbrowser.h
+++ b/rtgui/dirbrowser.h
@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@
 #ifdef WIN32
 #include "windirmonitor.h"
 #endif
-#include "dirselectionlistener.h"
-#include "dirbrowserremoteinterface.h"
 
-class DirBrowser : public Gtk::VBox, public DirBrowserRemoteInterface
+class DirBrowser : public Gtk::VBox
 #ifdef WIN32
     , public WinDirChangeListener
 #endif
 {
+public:
+    typedef sigc::signal<void, const Glib::ustring&, const Glib::ustring&> DirSelectionSignal;
 
 private:
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ private:
 
     Gtk::TreeView *dirtree;
     Gtk::ScrolledWindow *scrolledwindow4;
-    std::vector<DirSelectionListener*> dllisteners;
+    DirSelectionSignal dirSelectionSignal;
 
     void fillRoot ();
 
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ private:
     void addDir (const Gtk::TreeModel::iterator& iter, const Glib::ustring& dirname);
     Gtk::TreePath expandToDir (const Glib::ustring& dirName);
     void updateDir (const Gtk::TreeModel::iterator& iter);
-    void notifyListeners ();
 
 public:
     DirBrowser ();
@@ -105,11 +104,14 @@ public:
     void row_activated  (const Gtk::TreeModel::Path& path, Gtk::TreeViewColumn* column);
     void file_changed   (const Glib::RefPtr<Gio::File>& file, const Glib::RefPtr<Gio::File>& other_file, Gio::FileMonitorEvent event_type, const Gtk::TreeModel::iterator& iter, const Glib::ustring& dirName);
     void open           (const Glib::ustring& dirName, const Glib::ustring& fileName = ""); // goes to dir "dirName" and selects file "fileName"
-    void addDirSelectionListener (DirSelectionListener* l)
-    {
-        dllisteners.push_back (l);
-    }
     void selectDir      (Glib::ustring dir);
+
+    DirSelectionSignal dirSelected () const;
 };
 
+inline DirBrowser::DirSelectionSignal DirBrowser::dirSelected () const
+{
+    return dirSelectionSignal;
+}
+
 #endif
diff --git a/rtgui/dirbrowserremoteinterface.h b/rtgui/dirbrowserremoteinterface.h
deleted file mode 100644
index dda78bc47..000000000
--- a/rtgui/dirbrowserremoteinterface.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-/*
- *  This file is part of RawTherapee.
- *
- *  Copyright (c) 2004-2010 Gabor Horvath <hgabor@rawtherapee.com>
- *
- *  RawTherapee is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
- *  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
- *  the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
- *  (at your option) any later version.
- *
- *  RawTherapee is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- *  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- *  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
- *  GNU General Public License for more details.
- *
- *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
- *  along with RawTherapee.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- */
-#ifndef _DIRBROWSERREMOTEINTERFACE_
-#define _DIRBROWSERREMOTEINTERFACE_
-
-#include <glibmm.h>
-
-class DirBrowserRemoteInterface
-{
-
-public:
-    virtual void selectDir (Glib::ustring dir) {}
-};
-
-#endif
-
diff --git a/rtgui/dirselectionlistener.h b/rtgui/dirselectionlistener.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 3225487cb..000000000
--- a/rtgui/dirselectionlistener.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-/*
- *  This file is part of RawTherapee.
- *
- *  Copyright (c) 2004-2010 Gabor Horvath <hgabor@rawtherapee.com>
- *
- *  RawTherapee is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
- *  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
- *  the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
- *  (at your option) any later version.
- *
- *  RawTherapee is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- *  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- *  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
- *  GNU General Public License for more details.
- *
- *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
- *  along with RawTherapee.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- */
-#ifndef _DIRSELECTIONLISTENER_
-#define _DIRSELECTIONLISTENER_
-
-#include <glibmm.h>
-
-class DirSelectionListener
-{
-
-public:
-    virtual ~DirSelectionListener () {}
-    virtual void dirSelected (const Glib::ustring& dirname, const Glib::ustring& openfile = "") {}
-};
-
-#endif
diff --git a/rtgui/filecatalog.cc b/rtgui/filecatalog.cc
index 915f0d84e..8b9f299d8 100644
--- a/rtgui/filecatalog.cc
+++ b/rtgui/filecatalog.cc
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ FileCatalog::FileCatalog (CoarsePanel* cp, ToolBar* tb, FilePanel* filepanel) :
     selectedDirectoryId(1),
     listener(NULL),
     fslistener(NULL),
-    dirlistener(NULL),
     hasValidCurrentEFS(false),
     filterPanel(NULL),
     previewsToLoad(0),
@@ -2042,8 +2041,8 @@ void FileCatalog::buttonBrowsePathPressed ()
     // handle shortcuts in the BrowsePath -- END
 
     // validate the path
-    if (safe_file_test(BrowsePathValue, Glib::FILE_TEST_IS_DIR) && dirlistener) {
-        dirlistener->selectDir (BrowsePathValue);
+    if (safe_file_test(BrowsePathValue, Glib::FILE_TEST_IS_DIR) && selectDir) {
+        selectDir (BrowsePathValue);
     } else
         // error, likely path not found: show red arrow
     {
diff --git a/rtgui/filecatalog.h b/rtgui/filecatalog.h
index b30ebb553..b7ea1802f 100644
--- a/rtgui/filecatalog.h
+++ b/rtgui/filecatalog.h
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@
 #ifdef WIN32
 #include "windirmonitor.h"
 #endif
-#include "dirbrowserremoteinterface.h"
-#include "dirselectionlistener.h"
 #include "filebrowser.h"
 #include "exiffiltersettings.h"
 #include <giomm.h>
@@ -60,7 +58,6 @@ class FilePanel;
  *   - monitoring the directory (for any change)
  */
 class FileCatalog : public Gtk::VBox,
-    public DirSelectionListener,
     public PreviewLoaderListener,
     public FilterPanelListener,
     public FileBrowserListener,
@@ -69,6 +66,8 @@ class FileCatalog : public Gtk::VBox,
     , public WinDirChangeListener
 #endif
 {
+public:
+    typedef sigc::slot<void, const Glib::ustring&> DirSelectionSlot;
 
 private:
     FilePanel* filepanel;
@@ -84,7 +83,7 @@ private:
     FileSelectionListener* listener;
     FileSelectionChangeListener* fslistener;
     ImageAreaToolListener* iatlistener;
-    DirBrowserRemoteInterface*   dirlistener;
+    DirSelectionSlot selectDir;
 
     Gtk::HBox* buttonBar;
     Gtk::HBox* hbToolBar1;
@@ -175,7 +174,7 @@ public:
 
     FileCatalog (CoarsePanel* cp, ToolBar* tb, FilePanel* filepanel);
     ~FileCatalog();
-    void dirSelected (const Glib::ustring& dirname, const Glib::ustring& openfile = "");
+    void dirSelected (const Glib::ustring& dirname, const Glib::ustring& openfile);
     void closeDir    ();
     void refreshEditedState (const std::set<Glib::ustring>& efiles);
 
@@ -244,10 +243,7 @@ public:
     {
         iatlistener = l;
     }
-    void setDirBrowserRemoteInterface (DirBrowserRemoteInterface* l)
-    {
-        dirlistener = l;
-    }
+    void setDirSelector (const DirSelectionSlot& selectDir);
 
     void setFilterPanel (FilterPanel* fpanel);
     void setExportPanel (ExportPanel* expanel);
@@ -312,4 +308,9 @@ public:
 
 };
 
+inline void FileCatalog::setDirSelector (const FileCatalog::DirSelectionSlot& selectDir)
+{
+    this->selectDir = selectDir;
+}
+
 #endif
diff --git a/rtgui/filepanel.cc b/rtgui/filepanel.cc
index 5be2ab0df..0069a6dbd 100644
--- a/rtgui/filepanel.cc
+++ b/rtgui/filepanel.cc
@@ -59,14 +59,15 @@ FilePanel::FilePanel () : parent(NULL)
     ribbonPane->set_size_request(50, 150);
     dirpaned->pack2 (*ribbonPane, true, true);
 
-    placesBrowser->setDirBrowserRemoteInterface (dirBrowser);
-    recentBrowser->setDirBrowserRemoteInterface (dirBrowser);
-    dirBrowser->addDirSelectionListener (fileCatalog);
-    dirBrowser->addDirSelectionListener (recentBrowser);
-    dirBrowser->addDirSelectionListener (placesBrowser);
-    dirBrowser->addDirSelectionListener (tpc);
+    DirBrowser::DirSelectionSignal dirSelected = dirBrowser->dirSelected ();
+    dirSelected.connect (sigc::mem_fun (fileCatalog, &FileCatalog::dirSelected));
+    dirSelected.connect (sigc::mem_fun (recentBrowser, &RecentBrowser::dirSelected));
+    dirSelected.connect (sigc::mem_fun (placesBrowser, &PlacesBrowser::dirSelected));
+    dirSelected.connect (sigc::mem_fun (tpc, &BatchToolPanelCoordinator::dirSelected));
+    fileCatalog->setDirSelector (sigc::mem_fun (dirBrowser, &DirBrowser::selectDir));
+    placesBrowser->setDirSelector (sigc::mem_fun (dirBrowser, &DirBrowser::selectDir));
+    recentBrowser->setDirSelector (sigc::mem_fun (dirBrowser, &DirBrowser::selectDir));
     fileCatalog->setFileSelectionListener (this);
-    fileCatalog->setDirBrowserRemoteInterface (dirBrowser);
 
     rightBox = Gtk::manage ( new Gtk::HBox () );
     rightBox->set_size_request(50, 100);
diff --git a/rtgui/placesbrowser.cc b/rtgui/placesbrowser.cc
index 6edb3b471..bb92fab0d 100644
--- a/rtgui/placesbrowser.cc
+++ b/rtgui/placesbrowser.cc
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #include "guiutils.h"
 #include "rtimage.h"
 
-PlacesBrowser::PlacesBrowser () : listener (NULL)
+PlacesBrowser::PlacesBrowser ()
 {
 
     scrollw = Gtk::manage (new Gtk::ScrolledWindow ());
@@ -286,8 +286,8 @@ void PlacesBrowser::selectionChanged ()
                     drives[i]->poll_for_media ();
                     break;
                 }
-        } else if (listener) {
-            listener->selectDir (iter->get_value (placesColumns.root));
+        } else if (selectDir) {
+            selectDir (iter->get_value (placesColumns.root));
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/rtgui/placesbrowser.h b/rtgui/placesbrowser.h
index e8c443345..b9d74648b 100644
--- a/rtgui/placesbrowser.h
+++ b/rtgui/placesbrowser.h
@@ -21,12 +21,14 @@
 
 #include <gtkmm.h>
 #include <giomm.h>
-#include "dirbrowserremoteinterface.h"
-#include "dirselectionlistener.h"
 #include "multilangmgr.h"
 
-class PlacesBrowser : public Gtk::VBox, public DirSelectionListener
+class PlacesBrowser : public Gtk::VBox
 {
+public:
+    typedef sigc::slot<void, const Glib::ustring&> DirSelectionSlot;
+
+private:
 
     class PlacesColumns : public Gtk::TreeModel::ColumnRecord
     {
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ class PlacesBrowser : public Gtk::VBox, public DirSelectionListener
     Gtk::TreeView*          treeView;
     Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::ListStore> placesModel;
     Glib::RefPtr<Gio::VolumeMonitor> vm;
-    DirBrowserRemoteInterface* listener;
+    DirSelectionSlot             selectDir;
     Glib::ustring                lastSelectedDir;
     Gtk::Button*                 add;
     Gtk::Button*                 del;
@@ -59,11 +61,8 @@ public:
 
     PlacesBrowser ();
 
-    void setDirBrowserRemoteInterface (DirBrowserRemoteInterface* l)
-    {
-        listener = l;
-    }
-    void dirSelected (const Glib::ustring& dirname, const Glib::ustring& openfile = "");
+    void setDirSelector (const DirSelectionSlot& selectDir);
+    void dirSelected (const Glib::ustring& dirname, const Glib::ustring& openfile);
 
     void refreshPlacesList ();
     void mountChanged (const Glib::RefPtr<Gio::Mount>& m);
@@ -75,6 +74,11 @@ public:
     void delPressed ();
 };
 
+inline void PlacesBrowser::setDirSelector (const PlacesBrowser::DirSelectionSlot& selectDir)
+{
+    this->selectDir = selectDir;
+}
+
 #endif
 
 
diff --git a/rtgui/recentbrowser.cc b/rtgui/recentbrowser.cc
index 80d56de4d..1d559a9cd 100644
--- a/rtgui/recentbrowser.cc
+++ b/rtgui/recentbrowser.cc
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 using namespace rtengine;
 
-RecentBrowser::RecentBrowser () : listener (NULL)
+RecentBrowser::RecentBrowser ()
 {
 
     recentDirs = Gtk::manage (new MyComboBoxText ());
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ void RecentBrowser::selectionChanged ()
 
     Glib::ustring sel = recentDirs->get_active_text ();
 
-    if (sel != "" && listener) {
-        listener->selectDir (sel);
+    if (!sel.empty() && selectDir) {
+        selectDir (sel);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/rtgui/recentbrowser.h b/rtgui/recentbrowser.h
index 511207fa4..2d1e210f4 100644
--- a/rtgui/recentbrowser.h
+++ b/rtgui/recentbrowser.h
@@ -20,31 +20,34 @@
 #define _RECENTBROWSER_
 
 #include <gtkmm.h>
-#include "dirbrowserremoteinterface.h"
-#include "dirselectionlistener.h"
 #include "multilangmgr.h"
 #include "guiutils.h"
 
-class RecentBrowser : public Gtk::VBox, public DirSelectionListener
+class RecentBrowser : public Gtk::VBox
 {
+public:
+    typedef sigc::slot<void, const Glib::ustring&> DirSelectionSlot;
 
+private:
     Gtk::ComboBoxText*              recentDirs;
     sigc::connection             conn;
-    DirBrowserRemoteInterface*   listener;
+    DirSelectionSlot             selectDir;
 
 public:
 
     RecentBrowser ();
 
-    void setDirBrowserRemoteInterface (DirBrowserRemoteInterface* l)
-    {
-        listener = l;
-    }
+    void setDirSelector (const DirSelectionSlot& selectDir);
 
     void selectionChanged ();
-    void dirSelected (const Glib::ustring& dirname, const Glib::ustring& openfile = "");
+    void dirSelected (const Glib::ustring& dirname, const Glib::ustring& openfile);
 };
 
+inline void RecentBrowser::setDirSelector (const RecentBrowser::DirSelectionSlot& selectDir)
+{
+    this->selectDir = selectDir;
+}
+
 #endif
 
 
diff --git a/rtgui/toolpanelcoord.h b/rtgui/toolpanelcoord.h
index 44073344b..46285ce3e 100644
--- a/rtgui/toolpanelcoord.h
+++ b/rtgui/toolpanelcoord.h
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@
 #include "toolbar.h"
 #include "lensgeom.h"
 #include "lensgeomlistener.h"
-#include "dirselectionlistener.h"
 #include "wavelet.h"
 #include "dirpyrequalizer.h"
 #include "hsvequalizer.h"
@@ -93,7 +92,6 @@ class ToolPanelCoordinator :    public ToolPanelListener,
     public SpotWBListener,
     public CropPanelListener,
     public ICMPanelListener,
-    public DirSelectionListener,
     public ImageAreaToolListener
 {
 
@@ -236,7 +234,7 @@ public:
     void setDefaults    (rtengine::procparams::ProcParams* defparams);
 
     // DirSelectionListener interface
-    void dirSelected (const Glib::ustring& dirname, const Glib::ustring& openfile = "");
+    void dirSelected (const Glib::ustring& dirname, const Glib::ustring& openfile);
 
     // to support the GUI:
     CropGUIListener* getCropGUIListener (); // through the CropGUIListener the editor area can notify the "crop" ToolPanel when the crop selection changes