diff --git a/config-default.js b/config-default.js
index 7ebefb1f..48688a63 100644
--- a/config-default.js
+++ b/config-default.js
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ module.exports = {
     // font family with optional fallbacks
     fontFamily: 'Menlo, "DejaVu Sans Mono", "Lucida Console", monospace',
 
-    // terminal cursor background color
+    // terminal cursor background color (hex)
     cursorColor: '#F81CE5',
 
-    // terminal background color
+    // terminal background color (hex)
     backgroundColor: '#000',
 
     // some color overrides. see http://bit.ly/29k1iU2 for
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index ca380bf4..bb176ecd 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ app.on('ready', () => {
       height: 380,
       titleBarStyle: 'hidden',
       title: 'HyperTerm',
-      backgroundColor: '#000',
+      backgroundColor: config.getConfig().backgroundColor || '#000',
       transparent: true,
       // we only want to show when the prompt
       // is ready for user input