diff --git a/WPrefs.app/editmenu.c b/WPrefs.app/editmenu.c
index a719cba..35a6601 100644
--- a/WPrefs.app/editmenu.c
+++ b/WPrefs.app/editmenu.c
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ WEditMenuItem *WCreateEditMenuItem(WMWidget * parent, const char *title, Bool is
 
 	if (isTitle) {
 		WMSetWidgetBackgroundColor(iPtr, WMBlackColor(scr));
+	} else {
+		WMSetWidgetBackgroundColor(iPtr, WMGrayColor(scr));
 	}
 
 	WMCreateEventHandler(iPtr->view, WM_EVMASK_EXPOSURE | WM_EVMASK_STRUCTURE_NOTIFY, handleItemEvents, iPtr);
@@ -192,7 +194,13 @@ static void paintEditMenuItem(WEditMenuItem * iPtr)
 		color = scr->white;
 	}
 
-	scr->renderBackend->fill_rect(scr->renderBackendCtx, win, scr->white, 0, 0, w, h);
+	/* Use the view's stored background color (set by highlightItem and
+	 * the menu setup code).  X11 used to paint backgrounds via the X
+	 * server; on Wayland we have to draw it explicitly. */
+	{
+		WMColor *bg = iPtr->view->backColor ? iPtr->view->backColor : scr->white;
+		scr->renderBackend->fill_rect(scr->renderBackendCtx, win, bg, 0, 0, w, h);
+	}
 
 	W_DrawRelief(scr, win, 0, 0, w + 1, h, WRRaised);