diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
index 137337f786..49f317188e 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ Editor::initialize_canvas ()
 	_track_canvas_viewport = new ArdourCanvas::GtkCanvasViewport (horizontal_adjustment, vertical_adjustment);
 	_track_canvas = _track_canvas_viewport->canvas ();
 
-        _track_canvas->set_background_color (ARDOUR_UI::config()->color ("arrange base"));
+	_track_canvas->set_background_color (ARDOUR_UI::config()->color ("arrange base"));
 
 	/* scroll group for items that should not automatically scroll
 	 *  (e.g verbose cursor). It shares the canvas coordinate space.
@@ -946,8 +946,9 @@ Editor::color_handler()
 
 	refresh_location_display ();
 
-        /* redraw the whole thing */
-        _track_canvas->queue_draw ();
+	/* redraw the whole thing */
+	_track_canvas->set_background_color (ARDOUR_UI::config()->color ("arrange base"));
+	_track_canvas->queue_draw ();
         
 /*
 	redisplay_tempo (true);