diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
index f54849cf049c..47430c3709d7 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from . import backend_agg, backend_cairo, backend_gtk3
 from ._gtk3_compat import gi
 from .backend_cairo import cairo
-from .backend_gtk3 import _BackendGTK3
+from .backend_gtk3 import Gtk, _BackendGTK3
 from matplotlib import transforms
 
 # The following combinations are allowed:
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ def on_draw_event(self, widget, ctx):
 
         if not len(self._bbox_queue):
             self._render_figure(w, h)
+            Gtk.render_background(
+                self.get_style_context(), ctx,
+                allocation.x, allocation.y,
+                allocation.width, allocation.height)
             bbox_queue = [transforms.Bbox([[0, 0], [w, h]])]
         else:
             bbox_queue = self._bbox_queue
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
index fee4ff96c282..dcbf02eb5024 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from . import backend_cairo, backend_gtk3
 from ._gtk3_compat import gi
 from .backend_cairo import cairo
-from .backend_gtk3 import _BackendGTK3
+from .backend_gtk3 import Gtk, _BackendGTK3
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import cursors
 
 
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ def on_draw_event(self, widget, ctx):
         #     toolbar.set_cursor(cursors.WAIT)
         self._renderer.set_context(ctx)
         allocation = self.get_allocation()
+        Gtk.render_background(
+            self.get_style_context(), ctx,
+            allocation.x, allocation.y, allocation.width, allocation.height)
         self._render_figure(allocation.width, allocation.height)
         # if toolbar:
         #     toolbar.set_cursor(toolbar._lastCursor)