diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
index d3b2113b49..958f7e0f33 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
@@ -566,11 +566,11 @@
     <Option name="midi input button: led active" value="00000000"/>
     <Option name="midi input button: text" value="00000000"/>
     <Option name="midi input button: text active" value="00000000"/>
-    <Option name="transport clock: background" value="000000ff"/>
+    <Option name="transport clock: background" value="262626ff"/>
     <Option name="transport clock: text" value="6bb620ff"/>
     <Option name="transport clock: edited text" value="ffa500ff"/>
     <Option name="transport clock: cursor" value="ffa500ff"/>
-    <Option name="secondary clock: background" value="000000ff"/>
+    <Option name="secondary clock: background" value="262626ff"/>
     <Option name="secondary clock: text" value="6bb620ff"/>
     <Option name="secondary clock: edited text" value="ffa500ff"/>
     <Option name="secondary clock: cursor" value="ffa500ff"/>