diff --git a/src/apps/deskbar/BarMenuTitle.cpp b/src/apps/deskbar/BarMenuTitle.cpp
index 7506ddcb1a..cf877a1fb6 100644
--- a/src/apps/deskbar/BarMenuTitle.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/deskbar/BarMenuTitle.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@ TBarMenuTitle::DrawContent()
 	rgb_color menuColor = menu->LowColor();
 	rgb_color dark = tint_color(menuColor, B_DARKEN_1_TINT);
 	rgb_color light = tint_color(menuColor, B_LIGHTEN_2_TINT);
-	rgb_color black = {0, 0, 0, 255};
 
 	bool inExpandoMode = dynamic_cast<TExpandoMenuBar*>(menu) != NULL;
 
@@ -161,7 +160,10 @@ TBarMenuTitle::DrawContent()
 		frame.InsetBy(1, 1);
 		menu->SetHighColor(menuColor);
 		menu->FillRect(frame);
-		menu->SetHighColor(black);
+		if (IsSelected())
+			menu->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_SELECTED_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
+		else
+			menu->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
 		frame.InsetBy(-1, -1);
 		if (inExpandoMode)
 			frame.top -= 1;
@@ -177,7 +179,10 @@ TBarMenuTitle::DrawContent()
 			menu->StrokeLine(frame.LeftTop(), frame.LeftBottom());
 		}
 
-		menu->SetHighColor(black);
+		if (IsSelected())
+			menu->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_SELECTED_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
+		else
+			menu->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
 	}
 
 	menu->SetDrawingMode(B_OP_ALPHA);
diff --git a/src/apps/deskbar/TeamMenuItem.cpp b/src/apps/deskbar/TeamMenuItem.cpp
index 8a7474bebf..692f3ce17e 100644
--- a/src/apps/deskbar/TeamMenuItem.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/deskbar/TeamMenuItem.cpp
@@ -395,9 +395,6 @@ TTeamMenuItem::DrawContent()
 		menu->MovePenTo(drawLoc);
 	}
 
-	// set the pen to black so that either method will draw in the same color
-	// low color is set in inherited::DrawContent, override makes sure its
-	// what we want
 	if (fDrawLabel) {
 		menu->SetDrawingMode(B_OP_OVER);
 		menu->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
@@ -513,6 +510,11 @@ TTeamMenuItem::DrawContentLabel()
 	else
 		menu->SetLowColor(menu->LowColor());
 
+	if (IsSelected())
+		menu->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_SELECTED_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
+	else
+		menu->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
+
 	menu->DrawString(label);
 
 	free(truncLabel);
diff --git a/src/apps/deskbar/WindowMenuItem.cpp b/src/apps/deskbar/WindowMenuItem.cpp
index 98d93e33a3..21559c581c 100644
--- a/src/apps/deskbar/WindowMenuItem.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/deskbar/WindowMenuItem.cpp
@@ -272,8 +272,11 @@ TWindowMenuItem::DrawContent()
 		+ ((frame.Height() - fTitleAscent - fTitleDescent) / 2) + 1.0f;
 
 	menu->MovePenTo(contLoc);
-	// Set the pen color so that the label is always visible.
-	menu->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
+
+	if (IsSelected())
+		menu->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_SELECTED_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
+	else
+		menu->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
 
 	BMenuItem::DrawContent();