diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml
index 644834e4a..88740d022 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@
               />
 
     <activity android:name="BoardActivity"
-              android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Light"
               android:screenOrientation="portrait"
               android:configChanges="keyboardHidden"
               />
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/layout/board.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/layout/board.xml
index a6acf5fb5..a4770fac5 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/layout/board.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/layout/board.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 
 <LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+              android:id="@+id/board_root"
               android:orientation="vertical"
               android:layout_width="fill_parent" 
               android:layout_height="fill_parent"
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
index 62641181e..a6064c1bf 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
@@ -2120,9 +2120,9 @@ public class BoardActivity extends XWActivity
 
     private void setBackgroundColor()
     {
-        int back = CommonPrefs.get(this)
+        int back = CommonPrefs.get( this )
             .otherColors[CommonPrefs.COLOR_BACKGRND];
-        m_view.getRootView().setBackgroundColor( back );
+        findViewById(R.id.board_root).setBackgroundColor( back );
     }
 
     private void setKeepScreenOn()