diff --git a/gtk/gtkpopover.c b/gtk/gtkpopover.c
index 089e8e948a..b660a904b4 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkpopover.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkpopover.c
@@ -153,12 +153,17 @@ static void
 gtk_popover_init (GtkPopover *popover)
 {
   GtkWidget *widget;
+  GtkStyleContext *context;
 
   widget = GTK_WIDGET (popover);
   gtk_widget_set_has_window (widget, TRUE);
   popover->priv = gtk_popover_get_instance_private (popover);
   popover->priv->modal = TRUE;
   popover->priv->apply_shape = TRUE;
+
+  context = gtk_widget_get_style_context (widget);
+  gtk_style_context_add_class (context, GTK_STYLE_CLASS_BACKGROUND);
+  gtk_style_context_add_class (context, GTK_STYLE_CLASS_POPOVER);
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/gtk/gtkstylecontext.h b/gtk/gtkstylecontext.h
index 6804616218..4967d45f47 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkstylecontext.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkstylecontext.h
@@ -796,6 +796,15 @@ struct _GtkStyleContextClass
  */
 #define GTK_STYLE_CLASS_DESTRUCTIVE_ACTION "destructive-action"
 
+/**
+ * GTK_STYLE_CLASS_POPOVER:
+ *
+ * A CSS class that matches popovers. Used by #GtkPopover.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.14
+ */
+#define GTK_STYLE_CLASS_POPOVER "popover"
+
 /* Predefined set of widget regions */
 
 /**