diff --git a/gui/chromeTabs.py b/gui/chromeTabs.py
index 588732771..a9424880a 100755
--- a/gui/chromeTabs.py
+++ b/gui/chromeTabs.py
@@ -862,8 +862,15 @@ class PFTabsContainer(wx.Panel):
         mdc.SelectObject(canvas)
 
         selected = 0
+        color = wx.SystemSettings.GetColour( wx.SYS_COLOUR_3DFACE)
+        if 'wxGTK' in wx.PlatformInfo:
+            cr,cg,cb = color
+            cr -= 18
+            cb -= 18
+            cg -= 18
+            color = wx.Colour(cr, cg, cb)
 
-        mdc.SetBackground (wx.Brush(wx.SystemSettings.GetColour( wx.SYS_COLOUR_3DFACE if 'wxMSW' in wx.PlatformInfo else wx.SYS_COLOUR_BTNSHADOW)))
+        mdc.SetBackground (wx.Brush(color))
 #        mdc.SetBackground (wx.Brush((66,113,202)))
         mdc.Clear()