diff --git a/res/layout-land/launcher.xml b/res/layout-land/launcher.xml
index f0f7bbb9f4..113b319ff2 100644
--- a/res/layout-land/launcher.xml
+++ b/res/layout-land/launcher.xml
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
     android:id="@+id/launcher"
     android:layout_width="match_parent"
     android:layout_height="match_parent"
-    android:background="@drawable/workspace_bg"
     android:fitsSystemWindows="true">
 
     <com.android.launcher3.DragLayer
diff --git a/res/layout-port/launcher.xml b/res/layout-port/launcher.xml
index 5a018c5160..7202f7b325 100644
--- a/res/layout-port/launcher.xml
+++ b/res/layout-port/launcher.xml
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
     android:id="@+id/launcher"
     android:layout_width="match_parent"
     android:layout_height="match_parent"
-    android:background="@drawable/workspace_bg"
     android:fitsSystemWindows="true">
 
     <com.android.launcher3.DragLayer
diff --git a/res/layout-sw720dp/launcher.xml b/res/layout-sw720dp/launcher.xml
index a9601af6a1..8a9f3e9139 100644
--- a/res/layout-sw720dp/launcher.xml
+++ b/res/layout-sw720dp/launcher.xml
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
     android:id="@+id/launcher"
     android:layout_width="match_parent"
     android:layout_height="match_parent"
-    android:background="@drawable/workspace_bg"
     android:fitsSystemWindows="true">
 
     <com.android.launcher3.DragLayer
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/Launcher.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/Launcher.java
index 59ca978654..e5539c03c2 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/Launcher.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/Launcher.java
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ import android.graphics.Canvas;
 import android.graphics.Color;
 import android.graphics.PorterDuff;
 import android.graphics.Rect;
+import android.graphics.drawable.ColorDrawable;
 import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
 import android.net.Uri;
 import android.os.AsyncTask;
@@ -157,6 +158,10 @@ public class Launcher extends Activity
     private static final int REQUEST_BIND_APPWIDGET = 11;
     private static final int REQUEST_RECONFIGURE_APPWIDGET = 12;
 
+    private static final int WORKSPACE_BACKGROUND_GRADIENT = 0;
+    private static final int WORKSPACE_BACKGROUND_TRANSPARENT = 1;
+    private static final int WORKSPACE_BACKGROUND_BLACK = 2;
+
     /**
      * IntentStarter uses request codes starting with this. This must be greater than all activity
      * request codes used internally.
@@ -1042,8 +1047,9 @@ public class Launcher extends Activity
             }
         }
 
-        // Background was set to gradient in onPause(), restore to black if in all apps.
-        setWorkspaceBackground(mState == State.WORKSPACE);
+        // Background was set to gradient in onPause(), restore to transparent if in all apps.
+        setWorkspaceBackground(mState == State.WORKSPACE ? WORKSPACE_BACKGROUND_TRANSPARENT
+                : WORKSPACE_BACKGROUND_GRADIENT);
 
         mPaused = false;
         if (mRestoring || mOnResumeNeedsLoad) {
@@ -3296,9 +3302,17 @@ public class Launcher extends Activity
         return (mState == State.WIDGETS) || (mOnResumeState == State.WIDGETS);
     }
 
-    private void setWorkspaceBackground(boolean workspace) {
-        mLauncherView.setBackground(workspace ?
-                mWorkspaceBackgroundDrawable : null);
+    private void setWorkspaceBackground(int background) {
+        switch (background) {
+            case WORKSPACE_BACKGROUND_TRANSPARENT:
+                getWindow().setBackgroundDrawable(new ColorDrawable(Color.TRANSPARENT));
+                break;
+            case WORKSPACE_BACKGROUND_BLACK:
+                getWindow().setBackgroundDrawable(null);
+                break;
+            default:
+                getWindow().setBackgroundDrawable(mWorkspaceBackgroundDrawable);
+        }
     }
 
     protected void changeWallpaperVisiblity(boolean visible) {
@@ -3308,7 +3322,7 @@ public class Launcher extends Activity
         if (wpflags != curflags) {
             getWindow().setFlags(wpflags, WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SHOW_WALLPAPER);
         }
-        setWorkspaceBackground(visible);
+        setWorkspaceBackground(visible ? WORKSPACE_BACKGROUND_GRADIENT : WORKSPACE_BACKGROUND_BLACK);
     }
 
     @Override