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 89e022f40..ad1155faa 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ public class BoardActivity extends XWActivity
         if ( m_path.charAt(0) == '/' ) {
             m_path = m_path.substring( 1 );
         }
+        setBackgroundColor();
     } // onCreate
 
     @Override
@@ -370,6 +371,7 @@ public class BoardActivity extends XWActivity
                 if ( null != m_jniThread ) {
                     m_jniThread.handle( JNIThread.JNICmd.CMD_PREFS_CHANGE );
                 }
+                setBackgroundColor();
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1315,4 +1317,11 @@ public class BoardActivity extends XWActivity
         m_toolbar.update( Toolbar.BUTTON_CHAT, m_gsi.gameIsConnected );
     }
 
+    private void setBackgroundColor()
+    {
+        int back = CommonPrefs.get(this)
+            .otherColors[CommonPrefs.COLOR_BACKGRND];
+        m_view.getRootView().setBackgroundColor( back );
+    }
+
 } // class BoardActivity