diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardCanvas.java b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardCanvas.java
index b5064e1ca..a5a6cc257 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardCanvas.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardCanvas.java
@@ -516,6 +516,10 @@ public class BoardCanvas extends Canvas implements DrawCtx {
     {
         m_trayOwner = owner;
         m_pendingScore = score;
+        if ( null != m_tileStrokePaint ) {
+            // force new color just in case it's changed
+            m_tileStrokePaint.setColor( m_otherColors[CommonPrefs.COLOR_CELLLINE] );
+        }
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -990,6 +994,7 @@ public class BoardCanvas extends Canvas implements DrawCtx {
             Paint paint = new Paint();
             paint.setStyle( Paint.Style.STROKE );
             paint.setStrokeWidth( Math.max( 2, rect.width() / 20 ) );
+            paint.setColor( m_otherColors[CommonPrefs.COLOR_CELLLINE] );
             m_tileStrokePaint = paint;
         }
         return m_tileStrokePaint;
diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/xml/prefs_appear_colors_dark.xml b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/xml/prefs_appear_colors_dark.xml
index c1eeaf4b8..34ce1f2dd 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/xml/prefs_appear_colors_dark.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/xml/prefs_appear_colors_dark.xml
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
     <org.eehouse.android.xw4.EditColorPreference
         android:key="@string/key_cellline_dark"
         android:title="@string/cellline"
-        android:defaultValue="0x303030"
+        android:defaultValue="0x373730"
         />
 
     <org.eehouse.android.xw4.XWListPreference