diff --git a/applets/kimpanel/package/contents/ui/InputPanel.qml b/applets/kimpanel/package/contents/ui/InputPanel.qml
--- a/applets/kimpanel/package/contents/ui/InputPanel.qml
+++ b/applets/kimpanel/package/contents/ui/InputPanel.qml
@@ -90,29 +90,33 @@
                     id: tableList
                     dynamicRoles: true
                 }
-                delegate: Item {
+                delegate: Rectangle {
+                    property bool active: inputpanel.highlightCandidate == model.index
+                    property bool hover: candidateMouseArea.containsMouse
                     width: candidate.width
                     height: candidate.height
                     Layout.minimumWidth: candidate.width
                     Layout.minimumHeight: candidate.height
                     Layout.maximumWidth: candidate.width
                     Layout.maximumHeight: candidate.height
+                    color: active ? theme.highlightColor : (hover ? theme.viewHoverColor : 'transparent')
+
                     Row {
                         id: candidate
                         width: childrenRect.width
                         height: childrenRect.height
-                        property bool highlight: (inputpanel.highlightCandidate == model.index) != candidateMouseArea.containsMouse
+
                         PlasmaComponents.Label {
                             id: tableLabel
                             text: model.label
-                            color: candidate.highlight ? theme.textColor : theme.highlightColor
                             font: preferredFont
+                            color: active ? theme.highlightedTextColor : theme.textColor
                         }
                         PlasmaComponents.Label {
                             id: textLabel
                             text: model.text
-                            color: candidate.highlight ? theme.highlightColor : theme.textColor
                             font: preferredFont
+                            color: active ? theme.highlightedTextColor : theme.textColor
                         }
                     }
                     MouseArea {