diff --git a/res/values/attrs.xml b/res/values/attrs.xml
index ad77ada74..a89956faf 100644
--- a/res/values/attrs.xml
+++ b/res/values/attrs.xml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
         <attr name="textColorPrimaryRecipientDropdown" format="reference" />
         <attr name="textColorSecondaryRecipientDropdown" format="reference" />
         <attr name="backgroundColorChooseAccountHeader" format="color" />
+        <attr name="messageListSelectedBackgroundColor" format="reference|color"/>
         <attr name="messageListReadItemBackgroundColor" format="reference|color"/>
         <attr name="messageListUnreadItemBackgroundColor" format="reference|color"/>
         <attr name="messageListThreadCountForegroundColor" format="reference|color"/>
diff --git a/res/values/themes.xml b/res/values/themes.xml
index 0b17bf8ab..dda884e68 100644
--- a/res/values/themes.xml
+++ b/res/values/themes.xml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
         <item name="iconActionRequestReadReceipt">@drawable/ic_action_request_read_receipt_light</item>
         <item name="textColorPrimaryRecipientDropdown">@android:color/primary_text_light</item>
         <item name="textColorSecondaryRecipientDropdown">@android:color/secondary_text_light</item>
+        <item name="messageListSelectedBackgroundColor">#8038B8E2</item>
         <item name="messageListReadItemBackgroundColor">#80cdcdcd</item>
         <item name="messageListUnreadItemBackgroundColor">#00ffffff</item>
         <item name="messageListThreadCountForegroundColor">?android:attr/colorBackground</item>
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@
         <item name="iconActionRequestReadReceipt">@drawable/ic_action_request_read_receipt_dark</item>
         <item name="textColorPrimaryRecipientDropdown">@android:color/primary_text_dark</item>
         <item name="textColorSecondaryRecipientDropdown">@android:color/secondary_text_dark</item>
+        <item name="messageListSelectedBackgroundColor">#8038B8E2</item>
         <item name="messageListReadItemBackgroundColor">#00000000</item>
         <item name="messageListUnreadItemBackgroundColor">#805a5a5a</item>
         <item name="messageListThreadCountForegroundColor">?android:attr/colorBackground</item>
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/fragment/MessageListFragment.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/fragment/MessageListFragment.java
index 72ac618c6..c7334e5c4 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/fragment/MessageListFragment.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/fragment/MessageListFragment.java
@@ -1876,9 +1876,15 @@ public class MessageListFragment extends SherlockFragment implements OnItemClick
             }
 
             // Background indicator
-            if (K9.useBackgroundAsUnreadIndicator()) {
-                int res = (read) ? R.attr.messageListReadItemBackgroundColor :
-                        R.attr.messageListUnreadItemBackgroundColor;
+            if (selected || K9.useBackgroundAsUnreadIndicator()) {
+                int res;
+                if (selected) {
+                    res = R.attr.messageListSelectedBackgroundColor;
+                } else if (read) {
+                    res = R.attr.messageListReadItemBackgroundColor;
+                } else {
+                    res = R.attr.messageListUnreadItemBackgroundColor;
+                }
 
                 TypedValue outValue = new TypedValue();
                 getActivity().getTheme().resolveAttribute(res, outValue, true);