diff --git a/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageCompose.java b/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageCompose.java
index f49a085d0..35ee62aa0 100644
--- a/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageCompose.java
+++ b/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageCompose.java
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ public class MessageCompose extends K9Activity implements OnClickListener,
             View v = LayoutInflater.from(mThemeContext).inflate(R.layout.message_compose, null);
             TypedValue outValue = new TypedValue();
             // background color needs to be forced
-            mThemeContext.getTheme().resolveAttribute(R.attr.messageViewHeaderBackgroundColor, outValue, true);
+            mThemeContext.getTheme().resolveAttribute(R.attr.messageViewBackgroundColor, outValue, true);
             v.setBackgroundColor(outValue.data);
             setContentView(v);
         } else {
diff --git a/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/ui/messageview/MessageContainerView.java b/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/ui/messageview/MessageContainerView.java
index 91feb9f28..cc2bd16b5 100644
--- a/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/ui/messageview/MessageContainerView.java
+++ b/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/ui/messageview/MessageContainerView.java
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import android.net.Uri;
 import android.os.Parcel;
 import android.os.Parcelable;
 import android.util.AttributeSet;
-import android.util.TypedValue;
 import android.view.ContextMenu;
 import android.view.ContextMenu.ContextMenuInfo;
 import android.view.KeyEvent;
@@ -114,13 +113,6 @@ public class MessageContainerView extends LinearLayout implements OnClickListene
             openPgpHeaderView = (OpenPgpHeaderView) openPgpHeaderStub.inflate();
         }
 
-        // the HTC version of WebView tries to force the background of the
-        // titlebar, which is really unfair.
-        TypedValue outValue = new TypedValue();
-        context.getTheme().resolveAttribute(R.attr.messageViewHeaderBackgroundColor, outValue, true);
-        // also set background of the whole view (including the attachments view)
-        setBackgroundColor(outValue.data);
-
         mShowHiddenAttachments.setOnClickListener(this);
 
         mClipboardManager = ClipboardManager.getInstance(context);
diff --git a/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/ui/messageview/MessageTopView.java b/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/ui/messageview/MessageTopView.java
index 8c427b351..45e32f896 100644
--- a/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/ui/messageview/MessageTopView.java
+++ b/k9mail/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/ui/messageview/MessageTopView.java
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import android.app.Fragment;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.util.AttributeSet;
 import android.util.Log;
-import android.util.TypedValue;
 import android.view.LayoutInflater;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.widget.Button;
@@ -54,10 +53,6 @@ public class MessageTopView extends LinearLayout implements ShowPicturesControll
         // mHeaderContainer.setOnLayoutChangedListener(this);
         mInflater = ((MessageViewFragment) fragment).getFragmentLayoutInflater();
 
-        TypedValue outValue = new TypedValue();
-        getContext().getTheme().resolveAttribute(R.attr.messageViewHeaderBackgroundColor, outValue, true);
-        mHeaderContainer.setBackgroundColor(outValue.data);
-
         mDownloadRemainder = (Button) findViewById(R.id.download_remainder);
         mDownloadRemainder.setVisibility(View.GONE);
 
diff --git a/k9mail/src/main/res/layout/message.xml b/k9mail/src/main/res/layout/message.xml
index 3d54e37fc..13c3f0420 100644
--- a/k9mail/src/main/res/layout/message.xml
+++ b/k9mail/src/main/res/layout/message.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
     android:orientation="vertical"
     android:layout_width="fill_parent"
     android:layout_height="fill_parent"
-    android:layout_weight="1">
+    android:layout_weight="1"
+    android:background="?attr/messageViewBackgroundColor">
 
     <com.fsck.k9.view.NonLockingScrollView
         android:layout_width="fill_parent"
diff --git a/k9mail/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml b/k9mail/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml
index ac2a00c7c..cfdae609d 100644
--- a/k9mail/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml
+++ b/k9mail/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
         <attr name="messageListActiveItemBackgroundColor" format="reference|color"/>
         <attr name="messageListDividerColor" format="reference|color"/>
         <attr name="messageListCheckbox" format="reference"/>
-        <attr name="messageViewHeaderBackgroundColor" format="reference|color"/>
+        <attr name="messageViewBackgroundColor" format="reference|color"/>
         <attr name="messageViewAttachmentBackground" format="reference"/>
         <attr name="messageComposeAddContactImage" format="reference"/>
         <attr name="composerBackgroundColor" format="color"/>
diff --git a/k9mail/src/main/res/values/themes.xml b/k9mail/src/main/res/values/themes.xml
index 2b22bf849..fcf8bb253 100644
--- a/k9mail/src/main/res/values/themes.xml
+++ b/k9mail/src/main/res/values/themes.xml
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
         <item name="messageListActiveItemBackgroundColor">#ff2ea7d1</item>
         <item name="messageListDividerColor">#ffcccccc</item>
         <item name="messageListCheckbox">@drawable/btn_check_message_list_light</item>
-        <item name="messageViewHeaderBackgroundColor">#ffffffff</item>
+        <item name="messageViewBackgroundColor">#ffffffff</item>
         <item name="messageViewAttachmentBackground">@drawable/attachment_text_box_light</item>
         <item name="messageComposeAddContactImage">@drawable/ic_button_add_contact_light</item>
         <item name="compatDividerVertical">?attr/messageListDividerColor</item>
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
         <item name="messageListActiveItemBackgroundColor">#ff33b5e5</item>
         <item name="messageListDividerColor">#ff333333</item>
         <item name="messageListCheckbox">@drawable/btn_check_message_list_dark</item>
-        <item name="messageViewHeaderBackgroundColor">#000000</item>
+        <item name="messageViewBackgroundColor">#000000</item>
         <item name="messageViewAttachmentBackground">@drawable/attachment_text_box_dark</item>
         <item name="messageComposeAddContactImage">@drawable/ic_button_add_contact_dark</item>
         <item name="compatDividerVertical">?attr/messageListDividerColor</item>