diff --git a/basis/ui/pens/gradient/gradient.factor b/basis/ui/pens/gradient/gradient.factor
index a137ae022b..485015b898 100644
--- a/basis/ui/pens/gradient/gradient.factor
+++ b/basis/ui/pens/gradient/gradient.factor
@@ -41,4 +41,6 @@ M: gradient draw-interior
         [ last-vertices>> gl-vertex-pointer ]
         [ last-colors>> gl-color-pointer ]
         [ colors>> draw-gradient ]
-    } cleave ;
\ No newline at end of file
+    } cleave ;
+
+M: gradient pen-background 2drop transparent ;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/basis/ui/pens/solid/solid.factor b/basis/ui/pens/solid/solid.factor
index 32d400463e..950035e773 100644
--- a/basis/ui/pens/solid/solid.factor
+++ b/basis/ui/pens/solid/solid.factor
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ! Copyright (C) 2009 Slava Pestov.
 ! See http://factorcode.org/license.txt for BSD license.
-USING: kernel accessors opengl ui.pens ui.pens.caching ;
+USING: kernel accessors opengl math colors ui.pens ui.pens.caching ;
 IN: ui.pens.solid
 
 TUPLE: solid < caching-pen color interior-vertices boundary-vertices ;
@@ -29,4 +29,4 @@ M: solid draw-boundary
     (gl-rect) ;
 
 M: solid pen-background
-    nip color>> ;
\ No newline at end of file
+    nip color>> dup alpha>> 1 number= [ drop transparent ] unless ;
\ No newline at end of file