diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/dark.colors b/gtk2_ardour/dark.colors
index 2bae2d9308..39d713c17f 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/dark.colors
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/dark.colors
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@
     <ColorAlias name="marker label" alias="color 4"/>
     <ColorAlias name="marker track" alias="color 31"/>
     <ColorAlias name="measure line bar" alias="color 13"/>
-    <ColorAlias name="measure line beat" alias="color 45"/>
+    <ColorAlias name="measure line beat" alias="color 33"/>
     <ColorAlias name="meter background bottom" alias="color 46"/>
     <ColorAlias name="meter background top" alias="color 34"/>
     <ColorAlias name="meter bar" alias="color 7"/>
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@
     <Modifier name="inactive crossfade" modifier="= alpha:0.4666"/>
     <Modifier name="loop rectangle" modifier="= alpha:0.9764"/>
     <Modifier name="marker bar" modifier="= alpha:0.5"/>
-    <Modifier name="measure line beat" modifier="= alpha:0.8"/>
+    <Modifier name="measure line beat" modifier="= alpha:1.0"/>
     <Modifier name="midi frame base" modifier="= alpha:0.4"/>
     <Modifier name="midi note" modifier="= alpha:0.8"/>
     <Modifier name="midi note velocity text" modifier="= alpha:0.4666"/>
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/tempo_lines.cc b/gtk2_ardour/tempo_lines.cc
index 9d935b7f92..deca09b963 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/tempo_lines.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/tempo_lines.cc
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ TempoLines::draw_ticks (const ARDOUR::TempoMap::BBTPointList::const_iterator& b,
 		}
 
 		/* draw line with alpha corresponding to coarsest level */
-		const uint8_t    a = max(0, (int)rint(UINT_RGBA_A(base) / (0.75 * log2(level))));
+		const uint8_t    a = max(8, (int)rint(UINT_RGBA_A(base) / (0.8 * log2(level))));
 		const uint32_t   c = UINT_RGBA_CHANGE_A(base, a);
 		const framepos_t f = b->frame + (l * (fpb / (double)divisions));
 		if (f > leftmost_frame) {