diff --git a/app/tools/gimptexttool-editor.c b/app/tools/gimptexttool-editor.c
index c29d7e0fa7..b5e09703cf 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimptexttool-editor.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimptexttool-editor.c
@@ -890,7 +890,9 @@ gimp_text_tool_preedit_start (GtkIMContext *context,
 {
   GimpTool         *tool  = GIMP_TOOL (text_tool);
   GimpDisplayShell *shell = gimp_display_get_shell (tool->display);
+  GtkStyle         *style = gtk_widget_get_style (shell->canvas);
   GtkWidget        *frame;
+  GtkWidget        *ebox;
   PangoRectangle    cursor_rect = { 0, };
   gint              unused1, unused2;
   gint              off_x, off_y;
@@ -915,9 +917,17 @@ gimp_text_tool_preedit_start (GtkIMContext *context,
   gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (text_tool->preedit_overlay), frame);
   gtk_widget_show (frame);
 
+  ebox = gtk_event_box_new ();
+  gtk_widget_modify_bg (ebox, GTK_STATE_NORMAL,
+                        &style->base[GTK_STATE_NORMAL]);
+  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (frame), ebox);
+  gtk_widget_show (ebox);
+
   text_tool->preedit_label = gtk_label_new (NULL);
+  gtk_widget_modify_bg (text_tool->preedit_label, GTK_STATE_NORMAL,
+                        &style->text[GTK_STATE_NORMAL]);
   gtk_misc_set_padding (GTK_MISC (text_tool->preedit_label), 2, 2);
-  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (frame), text_tool->preedit_label);
+  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (ebox), text_tool->preedit_label);
   gtk_widget_show (text_tool->preedit_label);
 }