diff --git a/src/gnome-utils/dialog-account.c b/src/gnome-utils/dialog-account.c
index a6b2097a98..510076fadc 100644
--- a/src/gnome-utils/dialog-account.c
+++ b/src/gnome-utils/dialog-account.c
@@ -372,6 +372,9 @@ gnc_ui_to_account(AccountWindow *aw)
     /* gdk_color_to_string requires gtk >= 2.12 */
     string = g_strdup_printf("#%04X%04X%04X", color.red, color.green, color.blue);
 #endif
+    if (safe_strcmp (string, DEFAULT_COLOR) == 0)
+	string = "Not Set";
+
     old_string = xaccAccountGetColor (account);
     if (safe_strcmp (string, old_string) != 0)
         xaccAccountSetColor (account, string);
diff --git a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-main-window.c b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-main-window.c
index 6177286a29..d18645d15c 100644
--- a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-main-window.c
+++ b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-main-window.c
@@ -1992,6 +1992,11 @@ main_window_update_page_color (GncPluginPage *page,
         gtk_widget_modify_bg(event_box, GTK_STATE_NORMAL, &tab_color);
         gtk_widget_modify_bg(event_box, GTK_STATE_ACTIVE, &tab_color);
     }
+    else
+    {
+        gtk_widget_modify_bg(event_box, GTK_STATE_NORMAL, NULL);
+        gtk_widget_modify_bg(event_box, GTK_STATE_ACTIVE, NULL);
+    }
     g_free(color_string);
     LEAVE("done");
 }
@@ -2604,6 +2609,11 @@ gnc_main_window_open_page (GncMainWindow *window,
         gtk_widget_modify_bg(event_box, GTK_STATE_NORMAL, &tab_color);
         gtk_widget_modify_bg(event_box, GTK_STATE_ACTIVE, &tab_color);
     }
+    else
+    {
+        gtk_widget_modify_bg(event_box, GTK_STATE_NORMAL, NULL);
+        gtk_widget_modify_bg(event_box, GTK_STATE_ACTIVE, NULL);
+    }
 
     text = gnc_plugin_page_get_page_long_name(page);
     if (text)