diff --git a/gui/chromeTabs.py b/gui/chromeTabs.py
index 55f9d2973..1e04d1e37 100644
--- a/gui/chromeTabs.py
+++ b/gui/chromeTabs.py
@@ -980,10 +980,14 @@ class PFTabsContainer(wx.Panel):
         mdc.SelectObject(canvas)
 
         selected = 0
-
-        vattr = self.GetDefaultAttributes()
-        color = vattr.colBg
-
+        # TODO
+        # This is a hack because on mac os the system colour constants are somehow wrong,
+        # additionally somehow the colors get changed when drawing (all RGB values are off by 4)
+        # TODO
+        if 'wxMac' in wx.PlatformInfo:
+            color = wx.Colour(232, 232, 232)
+        else:
+            color = wx.SystemSettings_GetColour(wx.SYS_COLOUR_3DFACE)
         mdc.SetBackground (wx.Brush(color))
 
 #        mdc.SetBackground (wx.Brush((66,113,202)))