diff --git a/shell/view/frame/ActivitiesBox.py b/shell/view/frame/ActivitiesBox.py
index a46e8e9d..5a9e0de7 100644
--- a/shell/view/frame/ActivitiesBox.py
+++ b/shell/view/frame/ActivitiesBox.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import logging
 from sugar.graphics.palette import Palette
 from sugar.graphics.xocolor import XoColor
 from sugar.graphics.iconbutton import IconButton
+from sugar.graphics import style
 from sugar import profile
 
 from model import bundleregistry
@@ -27,7 +28,9 @@ from frameinvoker import FrameCanvasInvoker
 
 class ActivityButton(IconButton):
     def __init__(self, activity):
-        IconButton.__init__(self, icon_name=activity.get_icon())
+        IconButton.__init__(self, icon_name=activity.get_icon(),
+                            stroke_color=style.COLOR_WHITE,
+                            fill_color=style.COLOR_TRANSPARENT)
 
         palette = Palette(activity.get_name())
         palette.props.invoker = FrameCanvasInvoker(self)
diff --git a/sugar/graphics/canvasicon.py b/sugar/graphics/canvasicon.py
index e879f05f..39f13586 100644
--- a/sugar/graphics/canvasicon.py
+++ b/sugar/graphics/canvasicon.py
@@ -231,13 +231,13 @@ class CanvasIcon(hippo.CanvasBox, hippo.CanvasItem):
         stroke_color = None
         if self._active:
             if self._fill_color:
-                fill_color = self._fill_color.get_html()
+                fill_color = self._fill_color.get_svg()
             if self._stroke_color:
-                stroke_color = self._stroke_color.get_html()
+                stroke_color = self._stroke_color.get_svg()
         else:
-            stroke_color = color.ICON_STROKE_INACTIVE.get_html()
+            stroke_color = color.ICON_STROKE_INACTIVE.get_svg()
             if self._fill_color:
-                fill_color = self._fill_color.get_html()
+                fill_color = self._fill_color.get_svg()
         return [fill_color, stroke_color]
 
     def _get_handle(self, name, handle):
diff --git a/sugar/graphics/iconbutton.py b/sugar/graphics/iconbutton.py
index 85ea4e43..ba9fad8d 100644
--- a/sugar/graphics/iconbutton.py
+++ b/sugar/graphics/iconbutton.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class IconButton(CanvasIcon, hippo.CanvasItem):
             if self.props.active:
                 self.props.background_color = 0x000000FF
         else:
-            self.props.background_color = 0x404040FF
+            self.props.background_color = 0x00000000
 
     def _icon_clicked_cb(self, button):
         if self._palette:
diff --git a/sugar/graphics/style.py b/sugar/graphics/style.py
index 55b4a4b8..a5186da9 100644
--- a/sugar/graphics/style.py
+++ b/sugar/graphics/style.py
@@ -81,6 +81,12 @@ class Color(object):
 
         return (r, g, b)
 
+    def get_svg(self):
+        if self._a == 0.0:
+            return 'none'
+        else:
+            return self.get_html()
+
 _XO_DPI = 200.0
 
 _FOCUS_LINE_WIDTH = 2
@@ -113,6 +119,7 @@ TOOLBOX_TAB_LABEL_WIDTH = zoom(150 - 15 * 2)
 
 COLOR_BLACK = Color('#000000')
 COLOR_WHITE = Color('#FFFFFF')
+COLOR_TRANSPARENT = Color('#FFFFFF', alpha=0.0)
 COLOR_PANEL_GREY = Color('#C0C0C0')
 COLOR_SELECTION_GREY = Color('#A6A6A6')
 COLOR_INACTIVE_FILL = Color('#9D9FA1')