diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1e02eec4..bce49494 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,7 +15,12 @@
 * `Sync` to terminfo. This is a tmux extension that indicates
   _"Synchronized Updates"_ are supported.
 
+
 ### Changed
+
+* Background transparency to only be used with the default background
+  color.
+
 ### Deprecated
 ### Removed
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/render.c b/render.c
index 2af605c8..fb6b1794 100644
--- a/render.c
+++ b/render.c
@@ -390,7 +390,8 @@ render_cell(struct terminal *term, pixman_image_t *pix,
         _fg = _bg;
 
     pixman_color_t fg = color_hex_to_pixman(_fg);
-    pixman_color_t bg = color_hex_to_pixman_with_alpha(_bg, term->colors.alpha);
+    pixman_color_t bg = color_hex_to_pixman_with_alpha(
+        _bg, _bg == term->colors.bg ? term->colors.alpha : 0xffff);
 
     if (cell->attrs.dim)
         color_dim(&fg);
@@ -502,7 +503,8 @@ render_margin(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, int start_line, int end
     const int line_count = end_line - start_line;
 
     uint32_t _bg = !term->reverse ? term->colors.bg : term->colors.fg;
-    pixman_color_t bg = color_hex_to_pixman_with_alpha(_bg, term->colors.alpha);
+    pixman_color_t bg = color_hex_to_pixman_with_alpha(
+        _bg, _bg == term->colors.bg ? term->colors.alpha : 0xffff);
     if (term->is_searching)
         color_dim(&bg);