diff --git a/samples/combo/combo.cpp b/samples/combo/combo.cpp
index a136903a67..5f8e7fea59 100644
--- a/samples/combo/combo.cpp
+++ b/samples/combo/combo.cpp
@@ -228,8 +228,10 @@ public:
                                    int item, int flags ) const
     {
 
-        // If item is selected or even, use the default rendering.
+        // If item is selected or even, or we are painting the
+        // combo control itself, use the default rendering.
         if ( GetVListBoxComboPopup()->IsCurrent((size_t)item) ||
+             (flags & wxODCB_PAINTING_CONTROL) ||
              (item & 1) == 0 )
         {
             wxOwnerDrawnComboBox::OnDrawBackground(dc,rect,item,flags);
diff --git a/src/generic/odcombo.cpp b/src/generic/odcombo.cpp
index c2a9e98294..1e9926cd8e 100644
--- a/src/generic/odcombo.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/odcombo.cpp
@@ -1041,7 +1041,8 @@ wxCoord wxOwnerDrawnComboBox::OnMeasureItemWidth( size_t WXUNUSED(item) ) const
 void wxOwnerDrawnComboBox::OnDrawBackground(wxDC& dc, const wxRect& rect, int item, int flags) const
 {
     // we need to render selected and current items differently
-    if ( GetVListBoxComboPopup()->IsCurrent((size_t)item) )
+    if ( GetVListBoxComboPopup()->IsCurrent((size_t)item) ||
+         (flags & wxODCB_PAINTING_CONTROL) )
     {
         DrawFocusBackground(dc,
                             rect,