diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
index c2caea38a043..cf9c54123050 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
@@ -584,12 +584,10 @@ def print_jpg(self, filename_or_obj, *args, dryrun=False,
             FigureCanvasAgg.draw(self)
             if dryrun:
                 return
-            # The image is "pasted" onto a white background image to safely
-            # handle any transparency
+            # The image is pasted onto a white background image to handle
+            # transparency.
             image = Image.fromarray(np.asarray(self.buffer_rgba()))
-            rgba = mcolors.to_rgba(rcParams['savefig.facecolor'])
-            color = tuple([int(x * 255) for x in rgba[:3]])
-            background = Image.new('RGB', image.size, color)
+            background = Image.new('RGB', image.size, "white")
             background.paste(image, image)
             if pil_kwargs is None:
                 pil_kwargs = {}
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_image.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_image.py
index d56e5d3d9eb4..00f742f66596 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_image.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_image.py
@@ -674,8 +674,7 @@ def test_jpeg_alpha():
     plt.figimage(im)
 
     buff = io.BytesIO()
-    with rc_context({'savefig.facecolor': 'red'}):
-        plt.savefig(buff, transparent=True, format='jpg', dpi=300)
+    plt.savefig(buff, facecolor="red", format='jpg', dpi=300)
 
     buff.seek(0)
     image = Image.open(buff)