diff --git a/src/apps/qml/qml/ExtraColors.qml b/src/apps/qml/qml/ExtraColors.qml
--- a/src/apps/qml/qml/ExtraColors.qml
+++ b/src/apps/qml/qml/ExtraColors.qml
@@ -25,5 +25,6 @@
 
 QtObject {
     readonly property string backgroundColor: Kirigami.Theme.backgroundColor
+    readonly property string alternateBackgroundColor: Kirigami.Theme.alternateBackgroundColor
 }
 
diff --git a/src/apps/qml/qml/FancyMessageDelegate.qml b/src/apps/qml/qml/FancyMessageDelegate.qml
--- a/src/apps/qml/qml/FancyMessageDelegate.qml
+++ b/src/apps/qml/qml/FancyMessageDelegate.qml
@@ -68,9 +68,11 @@
 
     property QtObject rcAccount
 
-    color: RuqolaSingleton.backgroundColor
+    property bool hovered: loaded.item && loaded.item.hovered
+
+    color: hovered ? RuqolaSingleton.alternateBackgroundColor : RuqolaSingleton.backgroundColor
     implicitHeight: loaded.item ? 2*Kirigami.Units.smallSpacing + loaded.item.implicitHeight : 0
-    
+
     implicitWidth: 150
 
     signal openDirectChannel(string userName)
@@ -159,6 +161,12 @@
         }
 
         sourceComponent: getComponent()
+
+        onItemChanged: {
+            if (item) {
+                item.backgroundColor = Qt.binding(function() { return root.color; });
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     onLinkActivated: {
diff --git a/src/apps/qml/qml/messages/MessageBase.qml b/src/apps/qml/qml/messages/MessageBase.qml
--- a/src/apps/qml/qml/messages/MessageBase.qml
+++ b/src/apps/qml/qml/messages/MessageBase.qml
@@ -26,5 +26,13 @@
 QQC2.Button {
     id: main
 
+    property alias backgroundColor: background.color
+
     property var messageMain: undefined
+
+    background: Rectangle {
+        id: background
+
+        anchors.fill: parent
+    }
 }