diff --git a/src/gtk/window.cpp b/src/gtk/window.cpp
index 2ffbc1a024..558f67a699 100644
--- a/src/gtk/window.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/window.cpp
@@ -3971,7 +3971,7 @@ void wxWindowGTK::GtkSendPaintEvents()
     // widget to draw on
     GtkPizza *pizza = GTK_PIZZA (m_wxwindow);
 
-    if (GetThemeEnabled() && GetBackgroundStyle() == wxBG_STYLE_SYSTEM)
+    if (GetThemeEnabled() && (GetBackgroundStyle() == wxBG_STYLE_SYSTEM) && !IsTopLevel())
     {
         // find ancestor from which to steal background
         wxWindow *parent = GetParent();
diff --git a/src/gtk1/window.cpp b/src/gtk1/window.cpp
index 2ffbc1a024..558f67a699 100644
--- a/src/gtk1/window.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk1/window.cpp
@@ -3971,7 +3971,7 @@ void wxWindowGTK::GtkSendPaintEvents()
     // widget to draw on
     GtkPizza *pizza = GTK_PIZZA (m_wxwindow);
 
-    if (GetThemeEnabled() && GetBackgroundStyle() == wxBG_STYLE_SYSTEM)
+    if (GetThemeEnabled() && (GetBackgroundStyle() == wxBG_STYLE_SYSTEM) && !IsTopLevel())
     {
         // find ancestor from which to steal background
         wxWindow *parent = GetParent();