diff --git a/Src/Common/MDITabBar.cpp b/Src/Common/MDITabBar.cpp
index 5a931c2b4a7..dac033df011 100644
--- a/Src/Common/MDITabBar.cpp
+++ b/Src/Common/MDITabBar.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "IMDITab.h"
 #include "cecolor.h"
 #include "RoundedRectWithShadow.h"
+#include "MainFrm.h"
 
 #ifdef _DEBUG
 #define new DEBUG_NEW
@@ -96,7 +97,10 @@ static COLORREF getBackColor(bool onTitleBar)
 	const COLORREF clr = GetSysColor(COLOR_3DFACE);
 	if (!onTitleBar)
 		return clr;
-	return RGB(GetRValue(clr), std::clamp(GetGValue(clr) + 8, 0, 255), std::clamp(GetBValue(clr) + 8, 0, 255));
+	const COLORREF bgclr = dynamic_cast<CMainFrame*>(AfxGetMainWnd())->IsActivate() ?
+		RGB(GetRValue(clr), std::clamp(GetGValue(clr) + 8, 0, 255), std::clamp(GetBValue(clr) + 8, 0, 255))
+		: clr;
+	return bgclr;
 }
 
 static inline bool IsHighContrastEnabled()
diff --git a/Src/MainFrm.cpp b/Src/MainFrm.cpp
index 5dd5bed4c6a..caa45f89354 100644
--- a/Src/MainFrm.cpp
+++ b/Src/MainFrm.cpp
@@ -366,6 +366,7 @@ CMainFrame::CMainFrame()
 , m_lfDiff(Options::Font::Load(GetOptionsMgr(), OPT_FONT_FILECMP))
 , m_lfDir(Options::Font::Load(GetOptionsMgr(), OPT_FONT_DIRCMP))
 , m_pDirWatcher(new DirWatcher())
+, m_bActivate(false)
 {
 }
 
@@ -2540,6 +2541,16 @@ void CMainFrame::OnActivateApp(BOOL bActive, DWORD dwThreadID)
 		if (IMergeDoc* pMergeDoc = GetActiveIMergeDoc())
 			PostMessage(WM_USER + 1);
 	}
+
+	const bool bActivate = static_cast<bool>(bActive);
+	if ( bActivate != m_bActivate)
+	{
+		m_bActivate = bActivate;
+
+		CRect titleBarRect;
+		m_wndTabBar.GetClientRect(&titleBarRect);
+		InvalidateRect(&titleBarRect, TRUE);
+	}
 }
 
 void CMainFrame::OnNcCalcSize(BOOL bCalcValidRects, NCCALCSIZE_PARAMS FAR* lpncsp)
diff --git a/Src/MainFrm.h b/Src/MainFrm.h
index 39ddafe2a6a..3b5d0bca8a3 100644
--- a/Src/MainFrm.h
+++ b/Src/MainFrm.h
@@ -228,6 +228,7 @@ class CMainFrame : public CMDIFrameWnd
 	CMenuBar* GetMenuBar() { return &m_wndMenuBar; }
 	CToolBar* GetToolbar() { return &m_wndToolBar; }
 	static void WaitAndDoMessageLoop(bool& completed, int ms);
+	bool IsActivate() const { return m_bActivate; }
 
 // Overrides
 	virtual void GetMessageString(UINT nID, CString& rMessage) const;
@@ -454,4 +455,5 @@ class CMainFrame : public CMDIFrameWnd
 	bool CompareFilesIfFilesAreLarge(IDirDoc* pDirDoc, int nFiles, const FileLocation ifileloc[]);
 	std::unique_ptr<WCHAR[]> m_upszLongTextW;
 	std::unique_ptr<CHAR[]> m_upszLongTextA;
+	bool m_bActivate;
 };