diff --git a/res/values/attrs.xml b/res/values/attrs.xml
index 14b9d7b5c..9858a5ddc 100644
--- a/res/values/attrs.xml
+++ b/res/values/attrs.xml
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
         <attr name="composerBackgroundColor" format="color"/>
         <attr name="compatDividerVertical" format="reference"/>
         <attr name="compatSelectableItemBackground" format="reference"/>
+        <attr name="contactPictureFallbackDefaultBackgroundColor" format="reference|color"/>
     </declare-styleable>
 
 </resources>
diff --git a/res/values/strings.xml b/res/values/strings.xml
index b306f4420..8a1cf523b 100644
--- a/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -1147,4 +1147,6 @@ Please submit bug reports, contribute new features and ask questions at
     <string name="preposition_for_date">on <xliff:g id="date">%s</xliff:g></string>
 
     <string name="mark_all_as_read">Mark all as read</string>
+
+    <string name="global_settings_colorize_missing_contact_pictures">Colorize missing contact pictures</string>
 </resources>
diff --git a/res/values/themes.xml b/res/values/themes.xml
index 056adbecc..01d1bb838 100644
--- a/res/values/themes.xml
+++ b/res/values/themes.xml
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
         <item name="messageComposeAddContactImage">@drawable/ic_button_add_contact_light</item>
         <item name="compatDividerVertical">?attr/messageListDividerColor</item>
         <item name="compatSelectableItemBackground">@android:color/transparent</item>
+        <item name="contactPictureFallbackDefaultBackgroundColor">#ffababab</item>
     </style>
 
     <style name="Theme.K9.Dark.Base" parent="Theme.Sherlock">
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@
         <item name="messageComposeAddContactImage">@drawable/ic_button_add_contact_dark</item>
         <item name="compatDividerVertical">?attr/messageListDividerColor</item>
         <item name="compatSelectableItemBackground">@android:color/transparent</item>
+        <item name="contactPictureFallbackDefaultBackgroundColor">#ff606060</item>
     </style>
 
     <style name="Theme.K9.Light" parent="Theme.K9.Light.Base">
diff --git a/res/xml/global_preferences.xml b/res/xml/global_preferences.xml
index 8d4c1ee15..bc4e28593 100644
--- a/res/xml/global_preferences.xml
+++ b/res/xml/global_preferences.xml
@@ -178,6 +178,12 @@
                 android:summary="@string/global_settings_show_contact_picture_summary"
                 />
 
+            <CheckBoxPreference
+                android:persistent="false"
+                android:key="messagelist_colorize_missing_contact_pictures"
+                android:title="@string/global_settings_colorize_missing_contact_pictures"
+                />
+
             <CheckBoxPreference
                 android:persistent="false"
                 android:key="messagelist_background_as_unread_indicator"
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
index 741eea217..4f4b7d1db 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ public class K9 extends Application {
     private static boolean sUseBackgroundAsUnreadIndicator = true;
     private static boolean sThreadedViewEnabled = true;
     private static SplitViewMode sSplitViewMode = SplitViewMode.NEVER;
+    private static boolean sColorizeMissingContactPictures = true;
 
     /**
      * @see #areDatabasesUpToDate()
@@ -537,6 +538,7 @@ public class K9 extends Application {
         editor.putBoolean("useBackgroundAsUnreadIndicator", sUseBackgroundAsUnreadIndicator);
         editor.putBoolean("threadedView", sThreadedViewEnabled);
         editor.putString("splitViewMode", sSplitViewMode.name());
+        editor.putBoolean("colorizeMissingContactPictures", sColorizeMissingContactPictures);
         fontSizes.save(editor);
     }
 
@@ -757,6 +759,8 @@ public class K9 extends Application {
             setBackgroundOps(BACKGROUND_OPS.WHEN_CHECKED);
         }
 
+        sColorizeMissingContactPictures = sprefs.getBoolean("colorizeMissingContactPictures", true);
+
         K9.setK9Language(sprefs.getString("language", ""));
 
         int themeValue = sprefs.getInt("theme", Theme.LIGHT.ordinal());
@@ -1302,6 +1306,15 @@ public class K9 extends Application {
         sShowContactPicture = show;
     }
 
+    public static boolean isColorizeMissingContactPictures() {
+        return sColorizeMissingContactPictures;
+    }
+
+    public static void setColorizeMissingContactPictures(boolean enabled) {
+        sColorizeMissingContactPictures = enabled;
+    }
+
+
     /**
      * Check if we already know whether all databases are using the current database schema.
      *
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/misc/ContactPictureLoader.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/misc/ContactPictureLoader.java
index 9c92028d8..806e2a473 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/misc/ContactPictureLoader.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/misc/ContactPictureLoader.java
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ public class ContactPictureLoader {
     private Contacts mContactsHelper;
     private int mPictureSizeInPx;
 
+    private int mDefaultBackgroundColor;
+
     /**
      * LRU cache of contact pictures.
      */
@@ -59,7 +61,16 @@ public class ContactPictureLoader {
         0xffCC0000
     };
 
-    public ContactPictureLoader(Context context, int defaultPictureResource) {
+    /**
+     * Constructor.
+     *
+     * @param context
+     *         A {@link Context} instance.
+     * @param defaultBackgroundColor
+     *         The ARGB value to be used as background color for the fallback picture. {@code 0} to
+     *         use a dynamically calculated background color.
+     */
+    public ContactPictureLoader(Context context, int defaultBackgroundColor) {
         Context appContext = context.getApplicationContext();
         mContentResolver = appContext.getContentResolver();
         mResources = appContext.getResources();
@@ -68,6 +79,8 @@ public class ContactPictureLoader {
         float scale = mResources.getDisplayMetrics().density;
         mPictureSizeInPx = (int) (PICTURE_SIZE * scale);
 
+        mDefaultBackgroundColor = defaultBackgroundColor;
+
         ActivityManager activityManager =
                 (ActivityManager) appContext.getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
         int memClass = activityManager.getMemoryClass();
@@ -130,6 +143,10 @@ public class ContactPictureLoader {
     }
 
     private int calcUnknownContactColor(Address address) {
+        if (mDefaultBackgroundColor != 0) {
+            return mDefaultBackgroundColor;
+        }
+
         int val = address.getAddress().toLowerCase().hashCode();
         int rgb = CONTACT_DUMMY_COLORS_ARGB[Math.abs(val) % CONTACT_DUMMY_COLORS_ARGB.length];
     	return rgb;
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java
index 2249cee8b..13674a861 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity {
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_SHOW_CONTACT_NAME = "messagelist_show_contact_name";
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_CONTACT_NAME_COLOR = "messagelist_contact_name_color";
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_SHOW_CONTACT_PICTURE = "messagelist_show_contact_picture";
+    private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_COLORIZE_MISSING_CONTACT_PICTURES =
+            "messagelist_colorize_missing_contact_pictures";
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGEVIEW_FIXEDWIDTH = "messageview_fixedwidth_font";
 
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGEVIEW_RETURN_TO_LIST = "messageview_return_to_list";
@@ -118,6 +120,7 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity {
     private CheckBoxPreference mShowContactName;
     private CheckBoxPreference mChangeContactNameColor;
     private CheckBoxPreference mShowContactPicture;
+    private CheckBoxPreference mColorizeMissingContactPictures;
     private CheckBoxPreference mFixedWidth;
     private CheckBoxPreference mReturnToList;
     private CheckBoxPreference mShowNext;
@@ -247,6 +250,10 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity {
         mShowContactPicture = (CheckBoxPreference)findPreference(PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_SHOW_CONTACT_PICTURE);
         mShowContactPicture.setChecked(K9.showContactPicture());
 
+        mColorizeMissingContactPictures = (CheckBoxPreference)findPreference(
+                PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_COLORIZE_MISSING_CONTACT_PICTURES);
+        mColorizeMissingContactPictures.setChecked(K9.isColorizeMissingContactPictures());
+
         mBackgroundAsUnreadIndicator = (CheckBoxPreference)findPreference(PREFERENCE_BACKGROUND_AS_UNREAD_INDICATOR);
         mBackgroundAsUnreadIndicator.setChecked(K9.useBackgroundAsUnreadIndicator());
 
@@ -456,6 +463,7 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity {
         K9.setMessageListSenderAboveSubject(mSenderAboveSubject.isChecked());
         K9.setShowContactName(mShowContactName.isChecked());
         K9.setShowContactPicture(mShowContactPicture.isChecked());
+        K9.setColorizeMissingContactPictures(mColorizeMissingContactPictures.isChecked());
         K9.setUseBackgroundAsUnreadIndicator(mBackgroundAsUnreadIndicator.isChecked());
         K9.setThreadedViewEnabled(mThreadedView.isChecked());
         K9.setChangeContactNameColor(mChangeContactNameColor.isChecked());
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/fragment/MessageListFragment.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/fragment/MessageListFragment.java
index 5b5bcc222..1822f4b0c 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/fragment/MessageListFragment.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/fragment/MessageListFragment.java
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ import com.fsck.k9.activity.misc.ContactPictureLoader;
 import com.fsck.k9.cache.EmailProviderCache;
 import com.fsck.k9.controller.MessagingController;
 import com.fsck.k9.fragment.ConfirmationDialogFragment.ConfirmationDialogFragmentListener;
+import com.fsck.k9.helper.ContactPicture;
 import com.fsck.k9.helper.MergeCursorWithUniqueId;
 import com.fsck.k9.helper.MessageHelper;
 import com.fsck.k9.helper.StringUtils;
@@ -788,8 +789,7 @@ public class MessageListFragment extends SherlockFragment implements OnItemClick
         mCheckboxes = K9.messageListCheckboxes();
 
         if (K9.showContactPicture()) {
-            mContactsPictureLoader = new ContactPictureLoader(getActivity(),
-                    R.drawable.ic_contact_picture);
+            mContactsPictureLoader = ContactPicture.getContactPictureLoader(getActivity());
         }
 
         restoreInstanceState(savedInstanceState);
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/helper/ContactPicture.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/helper/ContactPicture.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cd3eb8fbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/helper/ContactPicture.java
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package com.fsck.k9.helper;
+
+import android.content.Context;
+import android.util.TypedValue;
+
+import com.fsck.k9.K9;
+import com.fsck.k9.R;
+import com.fsck.k9.activity.misc.ContactPictureLoader;
+
+public class ContactPicture {
+
+    public static ContactPictureLoader getContactPictureLoader(Context context) {
+        final int defaultBgColor;
+        if (!K9.isColorizeMissingContactPictures()) {
+            TypedValue outValue = new TypedValue();
+            context.getTheme().resolveAttribute(R.attr.contactPictureFallbackDefaultBackgroundColor,
+                    outValue, true);
+            defaultBgColor = outValue.data;
+        } else {
+            defaultBgColor = 0;
+        }
+
+        return new ContactPictureLoader(context, defaultBgColor);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/preferences/GlobalSettings.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/preferences/GlobalSettings.java
index e8ed8a7b1..4f488b63a 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/preferences/GlobalSettings.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/preferences/GlobalSettings.java
@@ -225,6 +225,9 @@ public class GlobalSettings {
         s.put("autofitWidth", Settings.versions(
                 new V(28, new BooleanSetting(true))
             ));
+        s.put("colorizeMissingContactPictures", Settings.versions(
+                new V(29, new BooleanSetting(true))
+            ));
 
         SETTINGS = Collections.unmodifiableMap(s);
 
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/view/MessageHeader.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/view/MessageHeader.java
index cc3d2a95f..8d5c49ba1 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/view/MessageHeader.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/view/MessageHeader.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import com.fsck.k9.FontSizes;
 import com.fsck.k9.K9;
 import com.fsck.k9.R;
 import com.fsck.k9.activity.misc.ContactPictureLoader;
+import com.fsck.k9.helper.ContactPicture;
 import com.fsck.k9.helper.Contacts;
 import com.fsck.k9.Account;
 import com.fsck.k9.helper.MessageHelper;
@@ -253,7 +254,7 @@ public class MessageHeader extends ScrollView implements OnClickListener {
 
         if (K9.showContactPicture()) {
             mContactBadge.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
-            mContactsPictureLoader = new ContactPictureLoader(mContext, R.drawable.ic_contact_picture);
+            mContactsPictureLoader = ContactPicture.getContactPictureLoader(mContext);
         }  else {
             mContactBadge.setVisibility(View.GONE);
         }