diff --git a/src/servers/app/Desktop.cpp b/src/servers/app/Desktop.cpp
index 1806c8a19c..f4a2b05cc0 100644
--- a/src/servers/app/Desktop.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/app/Desktop.cpp
@@ -590,6 +590,31 @@ Desktop::SetCursor(ServerCursor* newCursor)
 }
 
 
+/*!
+	\brief Redraws the background (ie. the desktop window, if any).
+*/
+void
+Desktop::RedrawBackground()
+{
+	LockAllWindows();
+
+	BRegion redraw;
+
+	WindowLayer* window = _CurrentWindows().FirstWindow();
+	if (window->Feel() == kDesktopWindowFeel) {
+		// TODO: this doesn't work correctly, yet
+		redraw = window->VisibleContentRegion();
+		window->ProcessDirtyRegion(redraw);
+	} else {
+		redraw = BackgroundRegion();
+		fBackgroundRegion.MakeEmpty();
+		_SetBackground(redraw);
+	}
+
+	UnlockAllWindows();
+}
+
+
 void
 Desktop::UpdateWorkspaces()
 {
diff --git a/src/servers/app/Desktop.h b/src/servers/app/Desktop.h
index ab410c1a84..a7cd51fc1e 100644
--- a/src/servers/app/Desktop.h
+++ b/src/servers/app/Desktop.h
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ class Desktop : public MessageLooper, public ScreenOwner {
 		BRegion&				BackgroundRegion()
 									{ return fBackgroundRegion; }
 
+		void					RedrawBackground();
+
 		void					MinimizeApplication(team_id team);
 		void					BringApplicationToFront(team_id team);
 
diff --git a/src/servers/app/Workspace.cpp b/src/servers/app/Workspace.cpp
index 4e5bd2a383..c58485a54a 100644
--- a/src/servers/app/Workspace.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/app/Workspace.cpp
@@ -98,9 +98,12 @@ Workspace::Color() const
 void
 Workspace::SetColor(const RGBColor& color, bool makeDefault)
 {
+	if (color == Color())
+		return;
+
 	// TODO: support makeDefault
-	// TODO: redraw desktop!
 	fWorkspace.SetColor(color);
+	fDesktop.RedrawBackground();
 }