diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in
index 7a432f06dd..42f22c5059 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in
@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@ style "meter_strip_ppm" = "default"
 
 style "meter_strip_vu" = "default"
 {
-  bg[NORMAL] = { 1.0, 1.0, 0.85 }
+  bg[NORMAL] = { .95, .88, .57 }
   fg[NORMAL] = { 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 }
 }
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
index 5208f5eb92..829c1ac641 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@
     <Option name="solo safe: led active" value="ff0000ff"/>
     <Option name="solo safe: text" value="c7c7d8ff"/>
     <Option name="solo safe: text active" value="c8c8d9ff"/>
-    <Option name="meterbridge peaklabel" value="cc4422ff"/>
+    <Option name="meterbridge peaklabel" value="ff1111ff"/>
     <Option name="meterbridge peakindicator: fill start" value="444444ff"/>
     <Option name="meterbridge peakindicator: fill end" value="333333ff"/>
     <Option name="meterbridge peakindicator on: fill start" value="ff0000ff"/>