This paper presents an intuitive on-line tuning strategy for linear model predictive control (MPC) algorithms. The tuning strategy is based on the linear approximation between the closed-loop predicted output and the MPC tuning parameters. By direct utilization of the sensitivity expressions for the closed-loop response with respect to the MPC tuning parameters, new values of the tuning parameters can be found to steer the MPC feedback response inside predefined time-domain performance specifications. Hence, the algorithm is cast as a simple constrained least squares optimization problem which has a straightforward solution. The simplicity of this strategy makes it more practical for on-line implementation. Effectiveness of the proposed strategy is tested on two simulated examples. One is a linear model for a three-product distillation column and the second is a non-linear model for a CSTR. The effectiveness of the proposed tuning method is compared to an exiting offline tuning method and showed superior performance. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.