diff --git a/terminus-core/src/api/index.ts b/terminus-core/src/api/index.ts
index af554593..195ab8f5 100644
--- a/terminus-core/src/api/index.ts
+++ b/terminus-core/src/api/index.ts
@@ -13,3 +13,4 @@ export { ElectronService } from '../services/electron.service'
 export { Logger, LogService } from '../services/log.service'
 export { HotkeysService } from '../services/hotkeys.service'
 export { HostAppService, Platform } from '../services/hostApp.service'
+export { ThemesService } from '../services/themes.service'
diff --git a/terminus-core/src/services/themes.service.ts b/terminus-core/src/services/themes.service.ts
index d9dd9a71..7207cd33 100644
--- a/terminus-core/src/services/themes.service.ts
+++ b/terminus-core/src/services/themes.service.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ export class ThemesService {
         return this.themes.find(x => x.name === name)
     }
 
+    findCurrentTheme (): Theme {
+        return this.findTheme(this.config.store.appearance.theme) || this.findTheme('Standard')
+    }
+
     applyTheme (theme: Theme): void {
         if (!this.styleElement) {
             this.styleElement = document.createElement('style')
@@ -31,10 +35,6 @@ export class ThemesService {
     }
 
     applyCurrentTheme (): void {
-        let theme = this.findTheme(this.config.store.appearance.theme)
-        if (!theme) {
-            theme = this.findTheme('Standard')
-        }
-        this.applyTheme(theme)
+        this.applyTheme(this.findCurrentTheme())
     }
 }
diff --git a/terminus-terminal/src/components/terminalTab.component.ts b/terminus-terminal/src/components/terminalTab.component.ts
index 676f00e3..65b4b565 100644
--- a/terminus-terminal/src/components/terminalTab.component.ts
+++ b/terminus-terminal/src/components/terminalTab.component.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { BehaviorSubject, ReplaySubject, Subject, Subscription } from 'rxjs'
 import { Component, NgZone, Inject, ViewChild, HostBinding, Input } from '@angular/core'
-import { AppService, ConfigService, BaseTabComponent } from 'terminus-core'
+import { AppService, ConfigService, BaseTabComponent, ThemesService } from 'terminus-core'
 
 import { Session } from '../services/sessions.service'
 
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ export class TerminalTabComponent extends BaseTabComponent {
     constructor(
         private zone: NgZone,
         private app: AppService,
+        private themes: ThemesService,
         public config: ConfigService,
         @Inject(TerminalDecorator) private decorators: TerminalDecorator[],
     ) {
@@ -209,7 +210,7 @@ export class TerminalTabComponent extends BaseTabComponent {
         } else {
             this.backgroundColor = null
             // hterm can't parse "transparent"
-            preferenceManager.set('background-color', 'rgba(0,0,0,0)')
+            preferenceManager.set('background-color', themes.findCurrentTheme().terminalBackground)
         }
         if (config.terminal.colorScheme.colors) {
             preferenceManager.set('color-palette-overrides', config.terminal.colorScheme.colors)